"Don't You Dare!" ~ A Dramione Story

Chapter Four

Hermione woke up, bathed in sunshine, and grinned. It felt good to be back, Hogwarts was a second home. Now her only one. The search for her parents had proved unsuccessful, but she knew they were happy wherever they were.

She got out of bed and put on her robes before crossing over to the mirror above her desk. Not a single dark circle, for once concealer wasn't going to be necessary. She lightly patted the apples of her cheeks with a peach colored blush, and applied a generous coating of mascara. She finished with a shiny clear lip gloss. She had learned to love makeup while in America, but didn't like too much. A drop of sleakeazy's potion, and her curls took a soft wave. One last look in the mirror, and she was out of the door.

Granger didn't look half bad as she left for class. Perhaps that was due to the fact the last time he had seen her she had been covered in dirt, and blood. Not a good look for anybody. As Malfoy left his dorm, he was met with a familiar smirk.

"Shacking up with Granger, eh? Now what would daddy think?"

"Nice to see you as well, Blaise."

Blaise dropped the smirk to shake his hand.

"Didn't expect to see you back, Draco. How did you manage it?"

"Mother wasn't going to let me come. She thought it was a bad idea, she didn't want me to have to face all the anger of students who lost parents thanks to death eaters. But I didn't want to hide the rest of my life in the manor alone with her, crying over father. If we want a fresh start we have to work for it. That's what I'm doing. Not that she cared. What changed her mind was actually McGonagall. She showed up at my house three weeks ago with a letter from the ministry pardoning my mother, and a Head boy badge for me. She and Mother talked in the study for about an hour and when they came back out McGonagall handed me my Hogwarts letter."
Blaise looked a little shocked.

"She has always been an impressive woman."

"I think this is her plan to help end the hatred. I mean she has me and Princess Granger living together."

"If you two make it through a month without hexing each other it will say something powerful. Why wasn't McGonagall the Chosen One again?"

"Would've been too easy."

Both the boys headed on to their first class of the day with Flitwick.

Hermione dove with a vengeance into her arithmancy homework that night. She had really missed the challenge of her class work. Did that make her crazy? Maybe a little. She had completely submerged herself in numbers when Malfoy burst into their common room, with a bottle of fire whiskey and two glasses.

"Ah, Granger. Just the person I was hoping to see!"

"And why would that be? Don't you think I'll be having a drink with you Malfoy." She said attempting to conceal that she was flattered he thought to bring her a glass.

"Nonsense. I have a..mmmh.. date... yes. A date. With Astoria. I'm going to need you to clear out."

"Clear out! Where do you suggest I go? And for how long?"

"Don't particularly care so long as it isn't here. And till morning should suit me fairly well." He said with very little interest tending to the fire.
Anger bubbles through her like a Cauldron, but before she could say something nasty to him she thought better. She went straight from the room and ran to Gryffindor tower.

She was out of breath when she got to the portrait of the Fat Lady, but that was okay, because she quickly swung open for Hermione with out her needing say a word. Ginny was sitting in the common room.

"Hey Mione, you okay? You look like you just ran a mile."

"Nearly. Ginny could you do something for me?"

"You name it."

"Gather every girl our ages you can find. Tell them I'm having a slumber party in my dorm room. Be there in one hour."