Signum Vitalis (a dramione story)

In which they stay the night

When Hermione joined the other girls, Luna had somehow found a thunderbird chick (or maybe it had found her) and they were both curled up on an engorgio-ed sofa. A soft nasally snore was coming from their direction but Hermione couldn't tell whether it was the chick or Luna.

Ginny was sitting cross-legged on another sofa, a pillow hugged to her stomach. "So," she said, staring at Hermione with shrewd eyes. "You've got some explaining to do."

Hermione slumped down onto her own bed that was transfigured from a chair. It was surprisingly comfortable. Whoever had spelled it was skilled. She turned her head and pressed her face against the soft pillow and thought about pretending that she hadn't heard the question. However, after a few seconds, the guilt of ignoring Ginny drove Hermione to roll over and face her.

"So," Hermione prompted, steeling herself.

Ginny leaned forward, resting her elbows on the pillow, and then squinted her eyes. "You? Malfoy? What is going on?"

Hermione sighed, her fatigue setting in heavy against her. "I don't have to explain anything."

"But he seems to... truly like you?"

"Hmm."
"It's got to be some kind of trap. Why are you going along with it? How can you stand him?"

Hermione pulled the pillow over her ears and muttered into the cushion. "As much as I want to have a heart to heart about Draco's personal growth and our relationship and all of that... can you please let me sleep?"

When there was no reply, Hermione drifted off to sleep only to be quickly interrupted by Ginny saying, "Even if he has changed, he is still Malfoy. Can he ever change enough?"

Hermione rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. As tired as she was, she still wanted Ginny to understand if she was genuinely trying to understand. "I still hated him when we first met. I insulted him most times I saw him and it took I a while but I finally realized he wasn't going to insult me back."

"Ever?" Ginny asked.

"Well, he made fun of my studying or my hair. Things Ron and Harry have been doing since Hogwarts. He never said mudblood and was pissed when someone else started to call me that."

"Really?" Ginny didn't sound convinced but she did sound a little curious. That was a good start, Hermione supposed.

"Really. The more I saw of him, the more I realized that he wasn't the old Draco."

"Yeah, but not hating him and letting him flirt with you like that are two different things."

"We're dating." Hermione said flatly, stomach a little tight as she waited for Ginny's response.

There were a couple moments of silence before Ginny said very loudly, "What?"

Hermione sat up quickly. "Shhh!"

Luna shifted over and the thunderbird stretched a wing over her leg. The rest of the house was silent.

Ginny turned back to Hermione. "Okay, I understand not wanting to date my brother. He's a git sometimes. But Malfoy? That's ten times worse!"

Hermione shook her head. "As I said, I don't have to explain myself to you. How about you give him a chance? Decide once you've seen what he's like now."

"You're completely nuts, Hermione. There's nothing that can change my mind on that."

Hermione shook her head and then curled up on her bed again, her back to Ginny. "Yes, well, goodnight."