Stay By My Side ✅ (Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy)

The Next Morning

Hermione POV

I didn't get much sleep that night. The sound of wind and rain from outside kept me awake for most of it. I would be lying if I said that Draco Malfoy didn't play a part. My mind kept replaying tonight's events over and over. The humiliation I suffered in Hogsmeade, that kiss, practically almost sleeping with Malfoy and of course him telling me Don't stay with someone you don't love. Something about those seven words kept me thinking. Have I ever even experienced true love before? I never got the chance to find out. I guess in my own way, I did love Ron but it sure didn't feel like the type of love you'd read in cheesy romance novels. Is love supposed to change you? Being with Ron never changed me. I've known him almost all of my life and supported him through thick and thin. There was once a time where I would do anything for him as he would with me. But now look at us. If he loved me he wouldn't of gotten... lets just say close... to a former Slytherin. But I didn't know what was on his mind. I never heard his side of the story. I then thought of Draco Malfoy. I began to wonder if Draco ever felt what "real love" was like before. Heck if I knew. I could think of a few girls who are probably head over heels for him though, including Pansy Parkinson. I don't know why, but I felt that when Draco loves, he loves hard. He suffered a lot in his life at the hands of his father and other death eaters. He is probably one of those people who does anything to hold onto something good he has in his life.

Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on my bedroom door. I quickly sat up in my bed. Surely this cannot be Malfoy... why would he come to my bedroom door? My eyes darted to my watch, it was 8:30am. Why so early? I guess I was about to find out. I felt a pang of nervousness and excitement and I walked to open to door. However those feelings quickly left when I opened the door to Ginny Weasley. Her eyes were red and she looked.... horrific. Hungover I suppose.

"Ginny." I say surprised "How did you get in?"

She shifted her shoulder a little and pointed behind her "Malfoy allowed me in to see you."

Behind Ginny's shoulder I saw Malfoy sitting at the table. He made brief eye contact with me before nodding as a greeting gesture. Looking at him brought back memories of the night before. I couldn't bring myself to look at him any longer so I quickly escorted Ginny into my room shutting the door behind me.

Ginny threw herself onto my bed straight away grabbing her head and groaning. "Uhhh... Do I look as bad as I feel? Tell me honestly Hermione."

"Well... you've certainly looked a lot better"

"So I look bad then?" she said sitting up straight rolling her eyes

"Hmm... maybe if you take more rest you'll look better. You did drink a lot last night"

"Ha. You're so bloody honest" she laughed throwing a pillow at me.

I playfully threw it back at her "You'd prefer me to lie?"

"Not exactly. Ugh, I'll never drink again. I went so over the top last night"

I sat next to her wrapping my arms around my legs "It's okay, no harm in having some fun every now and then. So whats up?"

Ginny's expression turned more serious, this made me weary. "So this morning I received a letter from Harry. To sum it up he basically asked for you and I to join him and Ron in Hogsmeade tonight. I came by to let you know in private"

"Hogsmeade with Harry and Ron...tonight?" I slowly tried to process this in my head. If I go this would mean coming face to face with Ron.

"Yes" said Ginny "and I really want to go. I'm desperate to see Harry but I would completely understand your reasons if you didn't want to come"