To all the wizards I have loved before

Chapter 4

Enjoying the story so far? Hope you are! Anyways on with the story! Love all you unusual and strange humans 💞
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Hermione walked slowly down the last corridor that led to the famed portrait of the Fat Lady.

She wished she could go anywhere else to sleep but there.

The last thing she needed was to enter the crowded common room at this hour.

But such is life.

It would have been a wonderful detour if it wasn't Draco Malfoy who'd stopped her about halfway down the corridor.

"Granger!" She heard his voice hiss before her wrist was grabbed and she was pulled into a nearby classroom.

Hermione had never seen him look so uneasy. His hair was messed and stuck up in a couple of places, his robes were all dishevelled, and his expression was so distraught Hermione was actually concerned for him.

He looked like a madman.

"Well?" He looked at her expectantly.

"What?" She seemed to have forgotten all her possible explanations. So she just stared at Draco blankly.

"Don't look at me like that! I know you understand what I'm asking you! Just what was that? Why? I don't--" Draco didn't finish.

This boy before her wasn't Draco Malfoy, the smug, sneering, meddling bully that had tormented her throughout her years as a Hogwart's student.
This boy before her seemed tired, too old to be only sixteen.

"Please, he breathed leaning into her, "just explain. I don't understand."

Hermione took a deep breath and rehearsed her explanation for the third time that day.

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"Okay, so let me just think out loud. You wrote that letter I received in my morning mail, but you didn't send it to me. You never wanted to send it to me, and now all of the letters you wrote to blokes you fancied at some point are out and you haven't figured out how?"

Hermione sighed. "Yes."

"Merlin this is one mess you've gotten yourself into huh, Granger?"

"I know, Malfoy." She huffed already irritated with the Slytherin.

"I've been trying to avoid Ron all day, which is why I kissed you, sorry." Hermione turned her head the slightest to look at Malfoy.

He nodded curtly. His face brightened suddenly. He spun towards her.

"Wait! I know how I can help you fix this mess. So I just had a row with Parkinson last night, I was wondering if we could just fake date. You know, you can convince the Weasel that you're not into him anymore and I can make Pansy jealous. It's like what you Muggles call a win-win."

He looked rather pleased at himself for suggesting this. And for a moment Hermione thought he had actually misplaced his brain, but it was actually a pretty great idea.

She beamed up at him, surprising both of them.

"That's actually pretty good..I mean I think we could pull it off... maybe..."

She brought her hand to her mouth and stifled a yawn. It was rather late, Filch would be out to patrol the corridors soon, waiting to stumble upon unexpecting students.

"So we'll do it?" Draco looked rather hopeful.

"Yes, but first thing, you need to call me Hermione and I'll have to call you Draco. We don't want people to get suspicious." He nodded.

"Well good night... Hermione." Draco chuckled and disappeared out of the classroom.

Hermione had to stop herself from giggling.

"Good night... Draco." She whispered.

Hermione liked the way his named rolled off of her tongue.

She smiled to herself and walked in a daze to the portrait.

"Chocolate frogs." She sighed out the password.

"HERMIONE!" She stopped dead.

But she was relieved to see that it was just Harry. Ron was no where in sight. Hermione thanked Merlin.

"Hey Harry." She smiled at her best friend. Thankfully she had never felt any romantic feelings towards him, she couldn't bear to loose him too.

"Where have you been?, Harry said in a hushed voice, "Ron and I haven't seen you all day. He was looking for you, you know."

Hermione gulped. She hoped Harry didn't know about the letters, he'd take Ron's side for sure.

"What's going on between you two? Is it because of Lavender? I mean she is dreadfully annoying, but he likes her. Just try to be happy for him. Okay?"

She was overcome with relief, but Hermione knew better than to show it. So she tried her best to look disappointed.

"Okay."

Harry nodded.

"Night 'Mione."

Today had been rough. She needed sleep. Maybe she and Draco could sort it out. This thought filled her with optimism.

"Night Harry."

Hermione trudged up to the girl's dormitories. Checking that everyone was asleep, especially Lavender, she climbed underneath her warm sheets.

Finally calm, Hermione drifted off into a peaceful, dreamless slumber.