𝑀𝒶 𝒷𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑒

𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃

The following days were horrible, especially training with Malfoy who seemed to love to make her life miserable

They had just started practicing the steps to her routine, it's been years since Hermione had performed this piece and her body was letting her know that. She didn't know how many times she fell on her bum, or how many times Draco had scolded her for missing a step, between practice and school, it was a miracle that Hermione was still standing

"Again"

"Malfoy I can barely stand, give me a moment" Hermione ordered, sweat made her leotard stick to her body, and her legs were glued to the mat on the floor, her feet stung in her pointe shoes and the ribbon burned her calves and shins

She tried to get up but her body felt like lead, she buckled under her weight and panted heavily as she fell to the floor again

"I-I can't" she whispered, she looked up and saw Draco sighed and walk up to her, he extended his hand and Hermione eyed it warily for a moment before taking it, he helped her up to her feet and extended a water bottle, she vaguely noticed one of his hands on her back while the other one was holding her arm, he helped her walk to the small bench and settled her down while he went to go fetch her dance skirt

She pulled out the ring and began playing with it, in that moment she wanted to go back to the memory of her shaking hands with the boy who became her friend, he had been her first friend if Hermione was being completely honest, but more than that, she wanted to go back to her teacher who was more like a mother than her actual mother, at least she attended every performance and competition

Hermione didn't hear Draco come back, what let her know that he was close was the small sharp intake of breath he took, Hermione looked up and put the ring into her leotard once again

"What's your problem?" She asked

Draco stammered for a second before regaining his composure and extending her skirt, Hermione slowly put it on and grabbed the towel, she wiped the sweat off her face, hands and legs before grabbing her water bottle again

"Let's call it a day" he told her, Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, he was being weird

"What's the matter with you?" She asked him

Draco huffed with annoyance

"Do tell what I have done now?" Draco said

"Well for starters you won't look at me, second of all, you keep glancing to my neck which only means yours looking at my necklace, so I ask again, what is the matter with you?"

Draco rolled his eyes and crossed his arms

"Who gave you that ring?" He asked

Hermione's hand froze mid air

"Why do you care?"

"You asked, I'm just curious" Draco shrugged

It was Hermione's turn to roll her eyes, she pulled out the ring and continued playing with it

"An old friend" was all she said

She stood up and limped to her bag, grabbing it she threw it over her shoulder and turned to him

"I'll see you tonight" Hermione said

She left before he could say anything else, not noticing him pull out a small ring wrapped around his neck

Hermione entered the dorm and saw Harry and Ron sitting in the common room

"Hermione? W-what are you...what is that?" Harry stuttered, blushing red when he saw Hermione's outfit