Simply fate.

Chapter twelve

The next morning, Hermione woke up on the couch of the common room. Ron was gone and instead a warm blanket was surrounding her like a nice, comfy nest. The sun was not up yet but the girl could feel that it was time for her to get up and get ready for class. She stood and stretched a bit. Her muscles were sore from all the crying that she had done the day before and also from the tension released by it. She felt good. Even if her hair was all over the place and her body hurts a little, Hermione felt much better than the past few days. She had let go and now she was ready to make a fresh start. She walked up to her dorms in order to change into her uniform and wash her face and teeth. 

Then she took her books and wand and headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast. It was only 6 a.m so she was pretty much the only one at the Griffondor table.  The pink light from the early morning sun was casting through the large windows of the rooms and there was in the air a scent of fresh toast and warm coffee. A few Ravenclaws were already there, too focused on their mail to really appreciate the taste of their freshly baked muffin. Hermione sat down at her table and began to search into her bag for that one book that she had not finished yet. She quickly found it but before putting it on the table, she decided that she deserved to enjoy her meal without focusing on something else. She put the blue-covered book aside and took a piece of bread instead. Hermione poured herself some delightful hot tea and started just randomly thinking about her day and what had happened last night. She blushed a bit at the thought of her crying a sea of tears like that, without any restrictions.

« Thinking nasty thoughts, aren't you Granger ? You could, blushing like that on your own. » the blond said.
Hermione looked up to see the person that she really wanted the least to see: Malfoy.
« What do you want ? »she said coldly as she watched the boy sat down in front of her. « I think I told you that I didn't wanted to see you again. Besides, this is the Griffondor table. You can seat over there, » she pointed at the Slytherin table. « with all of your amazing friends. »
« I wouldn't have thought that you, Hermione Granger, would use House segregation. That certainly is surprising ! »
« I'm not sure that the word « segregation » is appropriate here. Moreover, I am certainly not using it. I just said that because I wanted and still want you to get out of my sight, before you ruined my peaceful breakfast. Now, would you mind getting up and leaving me alone ? » Hermione said, trying as hard as she could to contain her fury.
« Well, even if you asked it very politely, I fine just where I am. So, yes. I would mind moving from here to that lonely table over there. » he responded with a devilish smile.
« Fine. » Hermione said as she opened her book and started to read attentively. The book was quite interesting actually. It talked about the different sorts of magic that you could perform at dawn or, on the contrary, at the time when the sun set. And also...
« Oh ! I already read this one ! » Malfoy genuinely said.
Hermione briefly looked up from her book.
« I don't care. »
« Actually, it says on the chapter nine that magic can... »
« Stop. Do not spoil me on this chapter. I am just starting it. » Hermione almost growled.
« Okay ! Easy tiger ! I'm not going to tell you that magic has a different colour depending if it's at sunrise or at sunset... » he said with a smirk.
« You. Just. Did ! » she exclaimed, throwing the book on the table. Hermione realised her act and a light pink stated to rose on her cheeks. « I just told you not to tell me. Don't you understand what I say ? First, I am telling you to leave me alone, then not to spoil the end of the book. And you clearly don't seem to care about what I am saying. Unless you would have... »
« I do. »
« What ? »
« I do listen to what you're saying. I'm sorry. I am not really use to the fact that someone is telling exactly what they don't want me to do. No one has ever really tell me « no » or « don't ». So I don't quite know how to act about that. »
« Oh. Right. »
« But I want you to know that I am sorry for what I said about you when we were younger. I was an arrogant prat and I just did what my parents told me to do. I know it's not a reason. Actually, I was perhaps a bit jealous of you. »
« Jealous ? Of me ? » she said, pointing at herself.
« Yeah of you ! » he chuckled. «  You are so smart and you're so fearless. You express clearly what you want and what you think and I was amazed by you. So will you excuse me for my behaviour ? Oh ! And you can have the secret room if you want. I just want us to become friend. So can we start over ? » he said, looking deep into Hermione's eyes. She held his stare as she drew her hand out.
« Hello, I'm Hermione Granger. Nice to meet you ! » she said with a bright smile.
« Hi, I am Draco Malfoy. Delighted to meet you too ! » the blond said, taking the girl's hand in his and shaking it.
The two of them held their hand together for a few seconds, looking at each other, before realising how awkward the situation was and quickly letting go.
As they went back to eating their meal, the other students rapidly filled the hall to start the day. Malfoy got back to his table, Hermione still looking at him.
« Good morning Hermione ! What are you looking at ? » Harry asked.
« Nothing. No one in particular. »