The Long Lost Zabini

Chapter 8

The semester passed by and things were going well. The teachers all still loved Hermione, regardless of her new appearance. They even found it difficult to not award Gryffindor points when her hand shot up. (Out of habit, of course. The movement and gleam in her eye was so familiar that they struggled to remind themselves 'she's in Slytherin now.') Lily Potter proved to be an amazing Potions teacher, and almost every student was at the level where they should have been if a real Potions teacher had taught them instead of Snape.

Hermione had gotten very close with the other Slytherin students, and they had all eventually apologized for their behavior towards her in past years. Whether that was because she wasn't a muggleborn after all or because they were in the wrong for calling anyone a Mudblood, she didn't know. But uncharacteristically, she didn't really care. She was just grateful for friends. Pansy Parkinson, who actually wasn't as pug faced as Hermione had thought when they were younger—or maybe she'd grown out of it, who knew?—had proved to be a loyal friend. Ginny was apprehensive of her at the beginning, but the three became fast friends. Though the house rivalry got in the way sometimes, it more often than not resulted in light teasing rather than anything serious.

The holidays approached, and everyone was starting to go home. Blaise, Draco, and Hermione had to decide what they were going to do. They were in the Head dorm, arguing. Draco was lounging on his bed while Hermione and Blaise sat on her bed, screaming at each other.

"Blaise, what's the point of going home to just the two of us? We can give our house elves the holiday to spend time with family and friends, and we could still be with some friends here. Not everyone is going home, you know."

"Ginny and Pansy are both leaving, so who would you be with anyway? Nott is staying but you're not friends with him. He's the only Slytherin. And all of the Gryffindors are leaving."

"Oh please, you know I don't have any problem with Nott. You just don't want us to be friends because you think his eyes are too often near my chest," Hermione retorted.

"Well I can't blame him. You're bloody gorgeous," Draco muttered under his breath. Neither twin heard him, to his relief, because they were too busy arguing. A few months of being lovey-dovey long lost siblings and they had already started the twin rivalry. This was why Draco was happy he didn't have any brothers or sisters.

"Well it's not my fault that you look like that! I'm just trying to protect you!"

"One, I don't need your protection, and two, what do you mean 'it's not your fault that I look like this'? Technically it is your fault, considering you lifted the glamour spell on me months ago."

"Well I-I—" Blaise spluttered.

"We've gotten so off-topic. I'm saying that we should stay here. According to Draco, his mother will want to take care of us if we go home, right? We shouldn't burden her. Draco, tell him I'm right."

"Don't bring me into this," Draco mumbled.

"Seriously? You can't even defend your mother? Coward," Hermione snapped.

"I can defend my mother and I would on any day, Hermione," Draco snapped back. "I'm just trying not to get into this stupid argument. Stay or don't stay, I don't care. I'm spending the holiday with my mother. God." He stormed out of the door, leaving the twins stunned.

"So have we agreed, we're staying?" Hermione finally asked.

"Ugh. Fine, I guess we're staying. We don't want to burden Narcissa. Hmph." He left too, probably to go to his own dorm. Hermione snuggled into her bed to get more comfortable.

A few hours later, Draco entered his dorm. "You're done?" He asked sardonically. Seeing that Hermione was asleep, he whispered "good."

"I'm sorry, alright? That was rude of me. Are you happy now?" Maybe she wasn't asleep after all. "Where have you been the past three hours?"

"I was soaking in the bath. I must've fallen asleep if you're right and it's been three hours. It would explain why my toes are all pruny," he chuckled lightly. He turned to the ceiling. "I'm sorry too, by the way."

"Sorry for what? You didn't do anything," Hermione replied, puzzled.

"Remember the first day I came to stay with you and Blaise?"

"Yes. What about it?"

"You made me apologize for the way I treated you these past years."

"What about it?" Hermione repeated.

"Well, I realize now that I was still angry at myself, and ashamed I had to do that in front of Weaslette, and—"

"Weaslette?"

"I meant Ginny. But as I was saying, I spat sorry and hadn't really meant it. I'd still thought of you as bookish and a know-it-all, regardless of how pure your blood was. So, I'm sorry. Really sorry. I, Draco Malfoy, officially apologize to you, Hermione Zabini."

Hermione burst out laughing. "Draco that was really unnecessary. Honestly, with everything that's happened these past few months, it's water under the bridge. Besides, most of what you said never really got to me because I had friends. My thoughts weren't always consumed with you." She chuckled a bit more.

That's not what Draco remembered. He knew she used to get upset. Pansy always told him smugly when she heard her crying in the bathroom. Maybe she just forgot...

"Your thoughts weren't always consumed with me? I'm offended. But at least I can take pride in knowing they are now." Draco smirked, turning to fully face Hermione.

She stiffened. "Excuse me?"

Draco tapped his temple. "Legilimens, remember?"

Hermione whipped out her wand and immediately had it against Draco's throat, despite how they had just been on opposite beds. He stared her in the eyes with a hint of fear. Why did her usually bright blue irises look violet?

"You went through my mind? For no reason?" She hissed.

"No! I was kidding, Hermione! Get off me!"

"Oh." Hermione eyes were once again that brilliant electric blue.

She got off him and Draco sighed with relief. He knew she wouldn't have actually hurt him, but what was with her eyes changing colors? Was it just the light? And why was she so upset at the thought of him going through her head? He had done it several times before with her knowledge and she hadn't minded. Did something new happen? Draco plastered a smirk on his face. He was Draco Malfoy. He didn't get scared anymore. He said smoothly, "well at least I wasn't wrong with my guess that I occupy your thoughts quite often. You wouldn't have reacted that way if I was."

"Shove off Malfoy." Malfoy? When did she start calling him by his last name again? "I actually thought you were going through my mind for no reason without my permission. Don't ever do that." She turned away from him and pulled the covers over her body. She clapped to turn the lights off, and just like that she was asleep.

Draco, however, was far from tired. He wanted to learn whatever he could about the color change in Hermione's eyes. Was there another secret she was keeping from him?

After pondering for a few minutes, he decided to get some sleep. He'd head to the library first thing in the morning.