The Cursed (Draco Malfoy)

Friendship

Jade:
Hermione is in bed when I get to the dorms. When she sees me, she turns away. I lay my bag down and  sit on her bed.

"Can I lay with you?" I ask. There were many nights in our first and second year when I would have nightmares about my father and Hermione would climb into bed with me. Patting my hair and whispering comforts.

She shakes her head yes but keeps her face turned. I climb in and lay on my side towards her.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I never should have yelled at you. At the time, I was upset that Draco was hurt. I realize that you were worried about me. I've taken our friendship for granted." I stroke her hair. "But you helped mold me into this independent, empowered woman and then you treated me like I would just fall at Draco's feet and become a Death Eater. You know me better. I've learned from you. You have been my person for six years. That will never change." I stroke her hair.

She huffs and rolls over so we are facing each other.
The light from the candle on her nightstand glows warmly on her face. She looks seriously at me, her brown eyes burning holes in mine.
"You ran away with a boy who hexed another student and almost killed her. You've been gone for what 3 days now? You didn't even have the decency of writing me a note?" She says, clearly upset.
"Draco wouldn't hurt me. He didn't even mean to hex Katie. Gemma was supposed to tell you. I'm sorry. I was angry. I didn't want to say anything I didn't mean." I respond.
She sighs. "Well, I guess that's good for both of us. Is he ok?"
"Yes, he's healing quite quickly. Is Harry alright? Gemma said he used a spell out of that Potion book. He looked traumatized when he saw Draco bleeding so heavily."
"He's stressed but alright. He's been spending a lot of time in Dumbledore's office. They are working on recovering a memory from Professor Slughorn. Apparently, it is the key to defeating Voldemort." She says.
I nod my head.
She looks down and I notice something light purple on her collarbone.
"Hermione Granger?! Is that a hickey on your chest?!" I shout.
She covers my mouth. "Don't you dare say a word! You have been sneaking around with a minion of the Voldemort for weeks. Do not judge!"
I laugh wickedly. "Who gave it to you?"
She blushes.
"Ron broke up with Lavendar, didn't he? You little minx! How long?"
"Just a couple of days." She says quietly.
"I love this for you. And him. Maybe he'll stop being such a foul little ogre." She lightly spats my arm.
"Ow!" I say clutching my arm dramatically.
"You've just insulted my boyfriend."
"Awweee!! Hermione!! He will never love you as much as I do." I say as I grab her and hug her to me.
She pushes away from me, laughing.
"You smell like cologne and...peppermints." She says, eyeing me.
I laugh. "Do I?" I feign innocence. "Well...I have been spending quite a bit of time with a certain dark prince...alone...in his room...where he doesn't have a roommate..." I waggle my eyebrows at her.
"Oh God! Jade, you didn't?! Did you have sex with him?" She asks appalled.
I shake my head, smiling like an idiot.
"God, Hermione! He's so beautiful! Like if I could mold the perfect man for myself, it still would not be as attractive as Draco Malfoy sitting in his boxers leaning against a headboard. I just can't get over it." I ramble.
"Ugh. No. I don't need to hear about that." She says laughing at me.
"Oh c'mon! I want to hear all of the dirty deets whenever you hook up with Ron." I say shaking her. She gets quiet and chews on her thumbnail like she does when she's nervous.
"Do you really love him?" She asks.
I shake my head yes. "It's like we just picked up where we left off when we were kids. He holds this special place in my heart and when he's not there, it feels empty. Like a piece of me is missing. He understands things about me that no one ever will and he lets me see him without any of his guards up. I just can't imagine life without him now."
She smiles at me. "I'm happy for you then."
"I'm happy for you too!" I say as I grab her hand and hug it to me. She giggles and covers me with the blanket before blowing out the candle.