It all started with a dance

9

The first week of classes came to an end, Hermione was sitting in the common room of the head dorms reading a book in silence

One of the founders came to the portrait on top of the fireplace informing her that there was someone waiting for her

She huffed and put her book down, she walked to the portrait expected to tell Ron to go away

"Ron I have told you already to...Zabini?" Hermione asked the dark skin wizard

He was rubbing the back of his head, he turned to the brunette and sighed

"I need your help Granger," he said

Hermione summoned a sweater and a pair of shoes, grabbing her wand she followed the other wizard who was leading them to the Slytherin commons

"What happened?" She asked

"Draco got drunk again and he's locked himself in the bathroom, he's not letting anyone in and we're hoping you'll talk to him," Blaise said

"Why me?" She asked

Blaise didn't answer because they arrived at the portrait, he said the password, and the two entered, passing the dark common room and heading towards the boys' dormitory rooms, Hermione saw Pansy and Theo banging on a door

"Granger you're here!" Theo exclaimed

"Why do you think I can help you? He won't listen to me" Hermione said

"Please, at least try" Pansy begged her

Hermione saw the three Slytherins worried, one of their friends was locked in a bathroom and neither couldn't do anything to help, nodding slightly she moved to the door and knocked

"Malfoy?" She asked softly

There was shuffling on the other side

"Malfoy, It's me, Granger, I need you to open this door," she said

When there was no response she moved to the floor

"Come on Malfoy, no snide remark? You're losing your touch" she said jokingly "at least let me insult you to your face Malfoy, the door makes me lose my touch" she added

There was a click on the door, she stood straight and opened the door, turning to the three Slytherins they nodded in confirmation she went in and saw Draco leaning against the sink with his eyes closed, a bottle of firewhiskey beside him

"Just shut up and have a drink with me" Draco slurred

"I still have some respect for myself...and a tiny ounce for you which is diminishing by the moment"

"Just sit" he ordered her "please" he mumbled to himself

Hermione sat down beside him, making sure to have some space between the two of them, and took the bottle, taking a sip she handed it back to him

"I h-had a good life" Draco slurred, taking a gulp

"I'm sure you did," she said

"I- not...not li-like that, I had my mother...and now I don't..." Draco said "s-she's in Azkaban because I was a coward" he spat, handing her the bottle

"At least she knows who you are Malfoy," Hermione told him, taking another sip

"What is that s-s-supposed to bloody mean?" He asked

"Your mother knows who you are, my mother doesn't," she told the blond, taking another gulp and handed it to him once again

"How?"

Hermione sighed, closing her eyes and leaned back

"I obliviated her," she told him "I obliviated my parents," she told him softly

Draco opened his eyes and looked at her, she felt him looking but didn't acknowledge

She opened her eyes and stood up, looking towards Draco she extended her hand

"Come on Malfoy, as much as I love sitting on the cold black tile floor, there's a comfortable couch in our dorms," she told the blond

He took her hand and she pulled him up, he lost his balance and crashed into Hermione who stumbled slightly

"Bloody hell Malfoy, how much do you weigh?" She asked

She led him to the door and opened it, the Slytherins were waiting outside and turned to see Hermione and Draco, Blaise and Theo ran to her aid and took the drunk blond

They took him out of the Slytherin dungeons and began walking towards head dorms, Draco was being dragged by the two boys

Hermione was following behind them, Pansy was behind her

"Granger..." Pansy began, walking beside her

Pansy began playing with her fingers, clearly whatever she wanted to say was difficult

"Thank you," Pansy said, not looking at the brunette

"He's head boy, I'm head girl, it's fine," Hermione told him

"No...I've been friends with him for years, and I always thought he could take care of himself but now...I'm terrified of leaving him alone, the first couple of months after I moved into the manor I would sleep in front of his door, fearing that the next morning I would find out that I lost my friend, and...we were banging on that door for two hours nonstop, and you were the one who helped us...Thank you, I mean it Granger" Pansy told the brunette

Hermione looked at the black hair girl and saw the toll that taking care of Draco has taken on her, there were faded black bags under her eyes, and her cheeks were slightly hollow, Pansy was looking ahead to her other friends

"He cares about you, I think that's why he didn't let you in, he doesn't want you to see him like that, and for what's it worth, he cries like a baby" Hermione whispered the last part

Pansy chuckled, she looked at Hermione

"I'm sorry Granger, for all the mean things I ever did and said to you, I regret everything, I do hope you will forgive me one day" Pansy apologized profusely

Hermione gave her a smile

"How about we start over? I have also done and said some things that have had the intention of hurting you, and I'm truly sorry, you seem like someone worth getting to know" Hermione said

Pansy smiled, she extended her hand

"I'm Pansy Parkinson"

Hermione took it

"I'm Hermione Granger"

They continued walking, turning a page in their complicated story

They arrived at the dorms, Hermione said the password and helped Theo and Blaise to the passed out drunk blond to his room

"Thank you," Blaise said, once they were outside the head dorms

Hermione nodded, the three Slytherins walked away and Hermione closed the door, walking into the living room, and grabbed her book