Don't Act Like You Know Me

Year 2 - Peppermint Frogs

The next morning, Draco awoke, unaware of what had happened the day before. He stumbled out of bed and found his way to the Great Hall for breakfast. He sat down in between Crabbe and Goyle, across from Pansy Parkinson. "...Mudblood got what was coming to her," he heard Goyle laugh.

"What?" he said as he began to load up his plate with food.

"Didn't you hear?" Pansy said with terrified eyes. "Hermione Granger's been petrified." Draco's blood froze over.

"Well deserved, in my opinion," Crabbe said. "She's a Mudblood Know-It-All bitch." Draco squeezed his hands shut in response. He could feel his fingernails digging into the skin of his palms. 

"Ended herself up in the hospital wing," Pansy said. "That's why they had to cancel the Quidditch game yesterday."

"Nobody cares about Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff Quidditch games," Goyle said. "They're just going to end up shaking hands and exchanging friendship bracelets at the end of the match." Draco's friends erupted into laughter as he tuned their words out. All he could think about was Hermione. He wanted to find whoever did this to her. This Heir of Slytherin bullshit had to come to a stop. 

Forgetting about his food, Draco pushed up from the table and stormed out of the Great Hall. "Draco, where are you off to?" Pansy said as he trudged farther and farther away. He didn't answer. He was headed straight to the Hospital Wing. 

Before entering, he checked to see if there was anyone of importance in there. The coast was clear. He slipped inside and found her bed. "Hermione," Draco breathed. He sat down next to the bed and gently placed his hand on her face. Her skin was cold as ice. She might as well have been dead. He sat there in silence for a few moments. I can't just sit here. I should be doing something, he thought. 

He pushed up from his seat and headed for the Greenhouse. He found the prettiest looking flowers that were growing in there, that still weren't very beautiful, they looked like wildflowers at best. He picked them and made his way back inside. He passed the sixth-year Slytherin Prefect, Gemma Farley, in the hallway. "Draco," she said. "Why do you have wildflowers?"

"Um... a... potion," Draco said.

"Right..." Gemma furrowed her brows as she walked away. Draco stuffed the flowers in his pocket.

 He made his way back to the Hospital Wing and took the flowers out of his pocket, along with a bag of peppermint frogs he had purchased off a sixth-year the day before. "I know peppermint frogs are your favorite, so I'll give you mine." He put the bag of peppermint frogs on her bedside table and laid the droopy looking flowers alongside of it. "I know it's not great, but it's the best I can without getting caught." Draco stood up and leaned over Hermione. He kissed her cold cheek before sulking out and returning to his common room. 

"Crabbe, Goyle," he nodded towards his friends as he retired to his dormitory. He plopped down on his bed and just stared at the ceiling before reaching for Hermione's scarf. He clutched it as he thought about her. 

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The next morning, Ron and Harry went to visit Hermione. "Hi, Hermione," Harry said gently as they walked in the door. Ron had a bag of peppermint frogs for Hermione and Harry had brought a card that they had written together.

"Who's brought these weeds?" Ron said as he picked up the wildflowers and tossed them into the wastebasket.

"So many cards," Harry said as he placed theirs on top of the growing stack.

"There's no point in talking to a petrified person. She won't hear a word you're saying," Madame Pomfrey said. Harry and Ron sat down awkwardly next to Hermione.