Venom and Velvet

Challenges

10. Challenges

At breakfast, Hermione was surprised to have three owls land in front of her, each extending its leg to reveal a letter. She recognized Pigwidgeon immediately. There was also a beautiful tawny owl and an owl that was all gold and seemed to shimmer where the light from the candles hit it. The gold owl shook its leg, urging her to remove the bright orange parchment.

Unfolding the letter, Hermione began to read the looped script.

Hermione,

I hope you enjoyed the show yesterday. I figured since you're not Head Girl you wouldn't try to give me detention, especially considering I've been out of school for a few years now. I've been thinking a lot about that day at the Leaky Cauldron. I'm sorry you had to see me like that.

Because I know you, I know you've been worried about me and it's been eating at you ever since. Hopefully, I proved to you that I haven't completely lost my edge and am still capable of having fun. If you see Peeves, give him my love.

What you saw was an isolated event. I want you to know that. You're family to me, and I wouldn't want my little sister thinking I've gone off the deep end. And, because I know you, I know this isn't good enough.

Yes, every day I wake up and wonder if this is all worth it. What's the point of going on if the other half of my personality is gone? The other half of my life? Fred and I were always inseparable, and he was taken from me. But then I remember that there are other people that are still here. Like mum and dad, and you, Harry, and the rest of my siblings. Ron has even been helping out at the shop.

I'm taking everything one day at a time. Honestly, there are more difficult days than easy ones. Usually, on the hard days I try to pour myself into my work. I know WWW is the best way to honor Fred's legacy. Anything to share laughter, you know? I think the best way to describe it is like this. I'm a bucket that used to be full, but last May I got tipped right over and emptied. Slowly, I'm filling myself back up. Every once in a while, the bucket starts to leak a little bit. Then, one of you comes along and patches up the hole so I can keep refilling. It's a process. Merlin, is it a process. But it gets better little by little.

Well, that was cheesy, wasn't it? Anyway, I promised I'd write and I'm a man of my word. Speaking of which, I swear to keep wreaking havoc at Hogwarts even though I no longer attend. In addition, I challenge you to pull at least one Weasley-twin-level prank during this your last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Yours mischieviously,

George

Hermione felt the moisture on her cheeks before Ginny mentioned it.

"Who wrote you a letter that's dissolved you to tears on the second day of school?"

"Your brother."

"Ron? That git! What did he do this ti-"

"No, not Ron. Just George. I made him promise to write me because I've been worried about him."

Ginny's expression softened instantly. Then, a brief shadow of grief crossed her face before she looked upward. There, at the top of the mountain, was the name. Fred Weasley. She looked back at Hermione, her eyes asking permission before reaching for the letter. After handing it over, Hermione wiped her face and read through the other two letters. The letter from Ron was short as usual. He wished her well in her classes and told her about helping George in the joke shop.

Harry wrote about his new owl, Godric, and his plans for the year. There wasn't much to catch up on, as they'd seen each other just a few days earlier. He mentioned hoping to visit the school next weekend.

Ginny finished reading George's letter and gave it back to Hermione. Next to her, Hermione felt someone sit. She turned to see Draco. He had dark circles under his eyes and he looked even paler than usual. However, despite this, he was smiling at her. Not smirking, but full-on smiling.

"Good morning, Granger," he said.

Hermione didn't know how to react. Was he under a spell?

"Good morning, to you, too, Draco. You seem cheerful," she said, trying not to show her concern at this fact.

"Oh, I am," he replied, the smile morphing into his signature smirk, leaving Hermione feeling more reassured.

"And why is that?"

"I'd like to propose a challenge."

"Is that so?"

"Indeed it is."

"And what is this challenge?"

"Well, you see, Granger, you may be the brightest witch of our age, but I am the brightest wizard," he paused, winking. Maybe he was just a morning person. "In light of this fact, I suggest we compete throughout the year to see who gets the highest marks on every major assignment."

Hermione considered this. Perhaps a little competition would help her stay focused, and it would probably do the same for Malfoy.

"Okay, but what's the motivation. Like, what does the winner get for a prize?"

Draco knit his eyebrows, he hadn't thought about it.

"The satisfaction of having beat the only other person whose wits nearly match their own?"

"That's not nearly compelling enough. How about a favor? Whoever loses owes the other an unconditional favor, no questions asked, no refusing." Hermione waved her wand, conjuring a piece of parchment and a quill. Across the top of the parchment, she neatly printed both of their names, then underlined them. "We will compare marks for every major assignment in Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Arithmency, Ancient Runes, History of Magic, and Astronomy, including but not limited to essays longer than one roll of parchment, any special projects, and all exams. For each 'win,' one of us will get a tally mark. At the end of June, whomever has the most tallies wins. Sound fair?"

"Completely," Draco's smile reappeared. "I look forward to decimating you, Hermione."

"Au contraire, monsieur. I believe it will be the other way around," Hermione returned his smile, but turned when she felt Ginny put her hand on her arm. Ginny was grinning at her.

"I'm going to go talk with Luna until she and I head off to Charms. You two keep talking." Before Hermione could say anything, Ginny was gone. With nothing else to do, she turned back to Draco, finally allowing the concern to register on her face.

"Draco?" She asked tentatively, ready to backpedal if he turned stony again.

He looked at her, his stormy eyes attentive.

"I know we're new to this friends thing, but would you tell me if something was wrong?"

For a moment, Draco was taken aback. "Friends" seemed like a strong word. Acquaintances, sure. Classmates, even, but friends? He was about to say something to that effect but stopped himself. If she did think of him as a friend, he didn't want to ruin it. Then, what did she mean by her question? What would be wrong?

Taking his silence as a cue to elaborate, she added, "You look ill, or like you're not sleeping."

Immediately, Hermione knew she had stepped over the line. Malfoy had hardened like a stone, his mask of indifference donned once again.