Redemption.

Chapter 3

Hermione looked at her fellow Head Boy staring at her as though he was a deer caught in headlights. He looked smart in his black robes, his hair slightly damp, but that was completely beside the point. Why was he just standing and staring at her? Hermione frowned at him.
"Need anything?" she asked him. He quickly shook his head, and went into his room, glancing at her one last time before closing the door. Well, that was weird, she thought, raising her eyebrows. Why was he acting so strangely? Cute!

Hermione blinked. Had she just called Draco Malfoy cute? Cute!? What was she thinking! Maybe she was still a bit turned on after her little- cough- game. But that was ridiculous, because she felt really satisfied right now. Maybe she was strained after her intense masturbating session? A slight blush stole into her cheeks thinking about it. This was her little secret, which she really really treasured. She couldn't stand the idea of someone finding out what it was...even worse: finding out what she was thinking when she was 'doing it'.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she glanced at her watch. 6:30. It was time to go down to the feast. Should she call Malfoy along? She quickly dismissed the idea...he was perfectly capable of keeping track of the time and coming down to the feast. She'd just leave now. But before she even got up, Malfoy walked out the door.

He stood for a moment before coming towards her. Was it just her or was her heart beating a bit rapidly? Malfoy stopped a few feet in front of her, hesitant. He took a deep breathe and released it.

"Granger," he started, and Hermione had to to force herself not to laugh, seeing him looking so uncomfortable. "Umm.. I know I'm not worthy of your forgiveness.. but I'm sorry, all right? I'm sorry for everything that happened, and I promise to be on better terms with you." He held out his hand for her to shake, which after a surprised moment, she did.

"Wow, Malfoy..." she whispered. "What's gotten into you?"

He shrugged, quickly letting go of her hand. "That's all I had to say." he said, and turned to walk away, but she called him back.

"Malfoy! Wait, I'm coming with you. We have to go down to the feast anyway." He nodded, but didn't wait for her to catch up to him. He hurried along the passageways, his shoulders slightly stiff.

Hermione wondered what was up with the Slytherin Prince. She'd seen him happy, gloating...she'd seen him angry...she'd seen him a bit depressed..but she'd never seen him this uncomfortable. Never. Her company wasn't so bad was it? Her preoccupation lasted only till they reached the Great Hall. And then all thoughts about him floated away.

The Great Hall looked exactly the same as it had been when she'd first entered it all those years ago. Hundreds of floating candles illuminating the hall, the four long house tables, the sea of black hats sitting in them,the ceiling bewitched to look like the sky outside...

"Merlin, I missed this." She heard Malfoy murmur. She stole a glance at him. He was looking at the hall with a kind of nostalgic sadness.

"Me too." she whispered softly, momentarily forgetting that she was talking to Malfoy.

She and Malfoy parted ways, as he went to the Slytherin table, and she made her way to the Gryffindor table. She sat down next to Ginny, who was taking with Neville. The two seemed engrossed and didn't notice her until she cleared her throat.

"Oh hey, Hermione!" Neville said. "How was it with the Slytherin?"

"You don't want to know." she said dryly, and Ginny giggled.

"What were you two talking about before I came?"

"Oh that." Ginny said, glancing at Neville. "We were talking about all the death eaters who're still running around freely."

Neville nodded. "Yaxley, Roseir, someone else and someone else..."he ticked them off his fingers.

"You don't know their names?" Hermione asked, amused.

"Hey, I forgot allright? We weren't the best of pals." Hermione and Ginny laughed, but quickly quieted down as Professor McGonagal came in leading the scared looking first years.

"Wish they'd hurry up." Hermione said. "I'm starving."

"You sound like Ron." Ginny said reproachfully.

Hermione just smiled vaguely. It was true, she was really starving, especially after her little episode in the room. She always felt tired and sore, but in a good way, after she orgasmed. Many would think that being the Gryffindor Princess, the War Heroine, she'd be all innocent in these aspects, but truth be told, it was one of the ways she released her stress and anxiety. And it worked, because when she was tired, she had fewer nightmares.

She felt a pair of eyes on her, just as McGonagal was reading out the names of the first years, and turned to see. Malfoy, seated on the Slytherin table, was staring at her in a very unsettling way. He didn't smile, nor sneer, he just looked at her with a kind of burning intensity that made her blush. Slightly. She looked away and got the feeling that he knew something. But what?