Reading between the lines

14

Hermione hurried through the halls, and found that most of the students were still making their way up from the ball, as Draco had said, and she spotted Ginny.

"How was the library Hermione?" Ginny asked, teasing her friend.

"Very enlightening." Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

"Only you would leave a party to go to the library Hermione." Seamus teased.

"Well, I found a really interesting book!" Hermione defended.

"Yeah, a book on the history of snogging." Ginny laughed.

"Ha, bloody, ha Ginny." Hermione grumbled.

When they had made it up to their dorm, and changed out of their fancy clothes, Hermione started feeling more like herself than she had in days.

"I am so glad that is over." Hermione said, as she laid her Order of Merlin in her empty school trunk.

"Well you made it through without committing any serious faux pas." Ginny said with a smile. "You look happier than you have in a long time."

"I think I am." Hermione said with a smile.

"So he... treats you nicely?" Ginny asked, sounding skeptical.

"Yes, he does." Hermione said, blushing. "He did send me the dress. And the brooch."

"No way." Ginny said. "He gave you a brooch worth thousands of galleons and you weren't even dating at the time?"

"He said he didn't like seeing me unhappy." Hermione explained. "He watched me open all those ridiculous dress robes that kept getting sent, and he knew I wanted something that covered my scar. And the brooch he had made from an old family heirloom... and Bellatrix's knife."

"Wait, what?" Ginny demanded. "That's where the goblin silver came from?"

"Yes, he had it melted down, but used some of it for the brooch. He said it would be fitting to make something to hold up my medal." Hermione said.

"Wow." Ginny said, scrunching up her face in distress. "'Mione, you are seriously messing with my worldview here. I can't grasp the concept of a Malfoy who gives thoughtful, and expensive, presents to the person he tormented all through school."

"Yeah, about that." Hermione said, blushing again. "He said he has had a crush on me since first year."

"Come again?" Ginny asked, agog.

"Yeah, I asked him who his first crush was, and after a bit of prodding he admitted it." Hermione explained.

"Wow, you covered a lot of ground tonight." Ginny said.

"Yeah, we did." Hermione said, smiling.

"Ok, don't hate me for this, but... Hermione, how do you know he's really changed?" Ginny asked. "I mean, he's done some pretty awful stuff. You don't know how bad it got here last year."

"I know, believe me, it's always in the back of my head." Hermione sighed. "I can't explain it. It's something about the way he talks."

"The way he talks makes you think he's changed?" Ginny said, skeptically.

"Yes, it's hard to explain." Hermione sighed. "He's constantly reminding me that he's not a good person, and that I shouldn't be around him. The way he talks about trying to follow his probation, it's like he's not doing it because he has to, but because he wants to do it for himself."

"Well, I guess that's good?" Ginny asked.

"I think it is." Hermione said, "He really doesn't want to go back to the way he was. I think he's actually happy his parents got put in Azkaban, he said it gave him a fresh start."

"Ok, but 'Mione... say you're right. Say he's completely changed, and wants to be a 'good guy' now." Ginny pressed, "You guys are still going to have a hell of a time if you want this to go anywhere. I mean, eventually you'd have to go public, and everyone would freak!"

"Yeah, he said as much himself." Hermione said sadly.

"Ok, so... are you prepared for that?" Ginny asked. "Because lets face it, the whole wizarding world expects you to marry my brother."

"Is that what Witch Weekly decided?" Hermione said sarcastically, "Because the last I'd heard, it's readers couldn't decide if I should be with Ron or Harry?"

"Well, the pictures from the Ceremony kind of sealed the deal." Ginny smirked. "Now that everyone knows Harry and I are together, they've automatically paired up you and Ron. And I thought you liked Ron?"

"I do like Ron, Ginny." Hermione said, "But you have to admit, we've never been able to make it happen. We never seem to be interested in each other at the same time, and now he's busy with Auror training, and I'm here. I feel like we only work as friends."

"You know he's not assertive enough to make anything happen." Ginny said.

"He was plenty assertive with Lavender." Hermione snapped.

"I guess." Ginny said, looking at the floor.

"I'm sorry Ginny, I just... I don't want to be in a relationship because people expect it." Hermione explained. "I mean, what if Draco is the love of my life, and I don't take a chance because we fought on different sides in a war neither of us wanted any part in?"

"I'm sorry, I just don't understand." Ginny admitted.

"Ginny, you got lucky." Hermione explained. "You've always loved Harry, it worked out for you. But I've always done what other people needed. I kept the boys going, I kept them alive. Now I have to keep myself going. And I like the way I feel when I'm with Draco. It's exciting, and interesting, and it makes me feel... awake!"

She ran her hands through her tangled hair. "Maybe it will end in disaster, maybe we will date for a few weeks a fizzle out. But I feel like I need to know."

"Well, I would be more concerned if you didn't seem so much happier tonight than you were before the dance." Ginny admitted. "So obviously he's doing something right. Just... don't do anything you'll regret."

"I don't think I am." Hermione smiled.

The girls' conversation ended abruptly when their dorm mates started returning from the ball, and Hermione fell asleep feeling more content than she had in months.