Simply fate.

Chapter fifteen

The next day, as you could easily imagined after spending time under the rain, Draco was ill. It was just a little cold but if he would tell you that he could be dying any seconds. Such a drama king. He spend his days laying on the couch of the common room, whinning like a child. He even managed to make his friends leave the room, that is how much he was annoying. First, Hermione, like the good friend that she was, wanted to take care of him. But then Pansy stopped her.

"Granger, believe me, he acts the same way each time he is ill. First, you help him and the next minute you're his personnal slave ! Don't be fooled by his puppy eyes, he's just faking and demanding attention. Now come with me, I wanted you to advice me on something."

"Is it about the herbology essay ? Because Neville would be the best to give you lessons."

"Don't you ever think about something else than class ?"

"Well, yes. But we do have a test coming up so I thought..."

"You thought wrong. Now, come !" Pansy said with an exasperated smile.

"You are sure we can leave him ?" Hermione said, glancing worriedly towards Draco.

"Yes, don't worry ! Your prince won't die ! Let's go."

That said, they were off. What they did not notice was the little smile on Draco's face as he heard Hermione telling Pansy that the blond was NOT her prince, and Pansy telling her that she was in complete denial.

When Hermione came back to the common room a few hours later, Draco was not slepping on the couch anymore. In fact, he was nowhere at of sight. She sighed. Hermione came back especially for him because she'd felt bad for lettig him alone. So she brought a box a biscuits and some tea for him. But since he wasn't here, she put the tray on the table and as the scent of cookies spread into the air, the other students quickly dug in. Hermione made her way towards the bookselves of the room. She wanted to find a book the Mrs. Pince recommanded. And since it wasn't available in the main library, Hermione hoped that it may be in the library of the Seventh year common room.

Between the shelf on Magical Creatures and the one on Complicated Potions, Hermione find something, but it was not her book. Instead, resting on a desk, she found a spleepy Draco Malfoy, his head resting on his arms like a pillow. A book laid open on he desk. Hermione thought that he was too cute like this, but she had to wake him, or else he would be in an even worst shape tomorrow. She gently touched his shoulder and he nearly jumped. He straighten himself quickly, his eyes trying to focus. His hair was a mess and his cheeks flushed from the fever.

"Oh, Hermione ! Didn't see you coming..." he blushed a little.

"Draco, are you blushing ?" she asked.

"Malfoys don't bl-blush ! That's ridiculous !" he stammered.

"Alright, if you say so..." she said as a smile started to form on her lips. "So, what were you studying before falling asleep ?"

"Potions. I wanted to make sure that I knew everything about the next potion we are going to brew. You know... to be ready."

"You, Draco Malfoy, are afraid of messing up a potion ? That's a first ! Really, Draco, what were you doing here ?" she asked as she raise an eyebrow.

The only thing that she got for an answer was a mumble.

"I'm sorry, I did not understand...You forgot the passeword, didn't you ?" she teased.

He simply nodded.

"And you were too tired to move so instead you stayed here. You could've send me a message with your patronus to ask me to come, you know."

"You say that as if anyone could cast a patronus..."

"Oh. I'm sorry, I assumed that..."

"Well, even you can make mistakes. Not as bright as I thought, Granger." he spat before leaving.

Hermione was speechless. It had become so easy for her to cast a patronus that she didn't even think that someone couldn't. She felt bad, she had hurt Draco. She didn't mean it but still, she should have been more careful. Draco was on the wrong side of the war, with the most powerful dark wizard living with him. Finding an happy memory after that kind of trauma was almost impossible. She regreted her words. But, what hurt her the most was that Draco called her « Granger ».

Hermione left the library and went to the Great Hall for dinner. While she ate, Hermione tried to catch a glimpse of blond hair, but she only met the worried look of Pansy. After dinner, Hermione told her friends that she will meet then a bit later, saying that she needed to go to the library. Instead, she went straight up the Astronomy Tower. That is where Pansy told her to go if she wanted to find Draco. After climbing the huge staircase, she eventually got to the top of the tower. But she didn't find anyone. The place was empty. Hermione could only hear the wind blowing through the windows. The sky was dark and the only light came from the moon. It gave an eerie feeling to the place. Hermione pulled out her wand and cast a Lumos. She called out for Draco, but she did not get any answer. Sighing, she retreated. Her hands were almost blue from the cold and her cheeks had a bright red color.

Hermione got to bed that night with a weird feeling in her chest. It was the first time that she argued with Draco, as a friend of course. And it hurt. She needed to make peace with him as soon as she could . Hopefully, they could improve and be better friend after this. But anyway, as they say : "Tomorrow is another day.".