Tutoring A Malfoy - Dramione

Chapter Ten - 'How could you, Harry?'

Later that evening, Hermione was glad to see that all the students were arriving back to Hogwarts after their Christmas holidays. By that time the darkness had set firmly so that the sky turned into a beautiful night sky; the moon was shining like a huge spotlight. Hermione watched as the students trudged through the thick snow with woollen hats and fluffy gloves. The welcoming feast would be soon and Hermione wanted to see Harry there. She felt as though Harry was the only friend she had at the moment and even he couldn’t help her through this... heartache. But she also knew that she couldn't tell him anything!

After her meeting with Dumbledore, she went straight to her common room. She would talk to Draco but not quite yet... she just needed time to absorb all the information. Hermione walked down the stairs for the welcoming feast. She thought of everything she knew about Draco; he was a death eater, that was for certain; Dumbledore knows about Draco being a death eater; and he also knows what Draco’s task is (something that Hermione, apparently, need not know) and she just had to help him walk away from the dark arts. She didn't know how she would do it but Dumbledore seemed to trust her. Hermione decided that she wouldn’t tell Harry because he would never let her go near Draco ever again and she couldn't afford any delay.

Hermione walked into the Great Hall and saw lots of students hugging, chatting excitedly and casually loitering about. Most of them were standing up and a few were already seated, as though eager for the food to appear. She walked further, smiling as people waved to her, trying to find Harry or even Ron and that bimbo, Lavender.  Something touched her wrist, something cold but she identified it as a hand. Hermione turned around to see Draco standing behind her, with his grey eyes looking everywhere but her. He ran a hand through his hair and his eyes glanced at her before shooting away again. Hermione raised her eyebrows at him, he obviously didn't want anyone to know he was talking to her.

‘Can we talk?’ Draco whispered and then glanced behind him as though somebody might catch him talking to a mudblood. Hermione gritted her teeth, annoyed that he was too proud and had too much of a reputation to look her in the eye, ‘can we talk... alone?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest. Someone said her name and she looked behind him and spotted a tuft of black hair that looked very familiar. Hermione’s heart leapt up as she realised it was Harry. She pushed past Draco who tried to catch her arm but missed, ‘Harry!’

‘Hermione!’ Harry greeted her as Hermione’s arms wrapped around his waist. She buried her face in his shoulder, glad to finally see him again. Harry took a step backwards by the force of the hug but chuckled, ‘how have you been?’

‘It’s been a long holiday, Harry,’ Hermione whispered into his ear and she noticed Ron walk past them. He nodded at Hermione but kept on walking. Hermione felt Harry’s body go rigid as she still hugged him and wondered why.

Harry glanced at Draco who was staring at him with a look that Harry could not identify, a look of jealousy. His grey eyes seemed to emit fire and rage just by the simple fact that Hermione ignored him for Harry instead. Draco swiped a hand across the table and a bunch of dishes clattered to the floor, breaking everyone’s chatter. Silence spread across the room as heads turned to see the broken plates and they found Draco who sighed furiously. Hermione pulled away from hugging Harry and turned to look at Draco just as he pushed past Harry, bumping his shoulder in a solid bump. Harry staggered a little and glared at Draco’s back as he sauntered off.

‘Were you talking to him before I came?’ Harry asked, turning to Hermione with a glare that was almost as strong as Draco’s. Hermione watched as Draco took a seat next to Pansy who was staring at him wide eyed, obviously having seen his fit of rage. She turned to Harry and shook his head before leading him to the Gryffindor table. Harry frowned, ‘Hermione, I don’t like-’