The Choices We Made (DISCONTINUED)

VII. Deep Talk

Hermione suddenly snapped her head up, "What's the date?" she asked Draco.

Draco looked at her, "It's the 6th of September. Why?" he asked, the smoke in his grey eyes spiraling around.

"Oh." Hermione said, "My birthday's 6 days away then." she said.

Draco cocked his head, "Oh? And you'll be turning 17 I presume?"

Hermione shook her head shyly, "Actually 16."

Draco gaped at her, "But then you'd have to be in the year below us." he exclaimed.

Hermione smirked, "Figured that out huh?" she sighed, "Thing is, before we even got the letter telling my parents that I was a witch..." Hermione paused.

Draco looked at her, the smoke in his eyes flecked with fire, twinkling with curiosity, urging her to go on.

"I had already known. I knew I was a witch."

Draco raised a single, perfectly groomed eyebrow, "Oh?"

"I had a friend, Jonah Grey. He was a wizard in the year above us. Once, during summer while we were playing by the river, I had accidentally started a fire on some weeds. He took me to his step-mother and it was her who had taught me about the whole other world that lived next to us.

"I begged her to teach me and she did. So basically, it was kind of like I'd started school 2 years early. Since I already knew all the requirements, Dumbledore said I'd attend before my year. I bragged about it to the muggle kids, I remember." said Hermione.

"Hermione..." Draco reached out and took her hands, "I..." Draco sighed, "I'm sorry. For calling you a mudblood. Mudblood is a stupid, stupid thing that purebloods came up with a long time ago to insult muggles, not even the muggleborns! Anyone of magical blood is our kin. It's just that the purebloods hate on the muggles so much. The first time I called you a mudblood, I was- I was just trying to prove to myself that I was pureblood. I always thought I didn't fit in with the other pureblood children, being cruel just came so easy to them but me..."

Draco looked down, as if ashamed to admit such a thing, "Anyway- I just wanted to apologize for that."

Hermione looked at Draco, "Who are you and what have you done to the cold, hateful boy I thought I knew?" she thought wonderingly. Draco held her gaze steadily, his beautiful eyes boring down on Hermione.

"Draco-" Hermione sighed, "It's fine Draco, complete and utterly fine. I think you've already proved yourself more than enough during the past year."

Draco smiled sadly, "I don't deserve your forgiveness Hermione... but thank you.