The Seventh Year (Dramione Fanfiction)

Chapter 12 - Draco's Cranes

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Hermione peered over the top of her book yet again at the figure in the corner of the common room. Draco hadn't lifted his head up from that book for what must have been hours, which Hermione couldn't help but find amusing. He'd mumbled no more than two words to her at breakfast that morning, (not once taking his eyes from the book) and then had retreated to the common room where she wasn't sure he'd even noticed her come in. She thought it was most odd that he'd be enjoying any book, for over the years at Hogwarts, she'd rarely seen him read. Hermione also was overly excited, purely because Christmas Eve was due in less than a week. She'd gleefully noticed the decorations beginning to adorn the great hall for the Christmas Feast that was to come. There were odd pieces of tinsel and baubles spread around the room, along with a hearty gold wreath over the door and two symmetrical trees decorated with twinkling lights and shimmering sparkles either side of the Head Table. She'd also been writing to Pansy, mostly out of boredom, but a little bit because she still wasn't all that close to her. Hermione had found out many things about the girl through their letters though, and had even begun to unravel a sense of humour that caused Hermione to laugh aloud. The pair had become considerably closer - unlike Hermione and Draco, both of whom still had a very odd relationship that constantly tilted between being friends and not.
Snapping her out of her thoughts, Draco slammed the book shut and forcefully pushed it away, but there was still a softness to the action, as if he didn't want to break the book just as much as he did. The way in which he executed the action caused Hermione to laugh, and Draco to turn to her.

"What?" He said, as if he'd just done a casual activity, like tie his shoelace.

"You just... I'm sorry." Hermione chuckled, "you just threw the book, but didn't at the same time."

"Well I wasn't going to break it." Draco stated obviously, but he too, looked as though he was warding off a smile.

"Why're you throwing it anyway? What happened?" She asked, closing her own book softly and placing it beside her.

"I can't keep reading. It's all i've done today, I picked it up this morning and I just.." Draco trailed off, as if his mind was ticking over.

He suddenly sprung to his feet, which resulted in Hermione asking him what he was doing, to which he replied 'none of your business' and left in the direction of his dormitory. Hermione just frowned and continued to read, it was a particularly cold day, so the last place she wanted to be was away from the fire she was sat next to anyway.

~

Draco rummaged through his trunk until at last, he felt the parchment between his fingers. The plan that Blaise had made up was wonderful, and he couldn't help but grin as he re-read it. It would be completely entertaining, but he had to make up for all of the hours he'd been spending reading instead of making paper cranes, not that they took too long. It was at this moment in time, where Draco was sitting cross-legged on his bed, surrounded by cranes and leftover parchment that he had an idea. The idea that came to mind was one that he would have laughed in your face about if you'd have suggested it to him two months ago, but now he couldn't see why not. So, deciding to follow it, he picked up the pile of parchment and traipsed back down the stairs to the common room, to where he hoped that Hermione Granger would still be sat infront of the fire. As he walked inside, he noted the mane of bushy hair and felt a sense of relief.

"Draco. You're back." She said, turning in her chair to look at him, whilst she shut her book.

"Yeah, uh, could you do something for me Granger?" Draco asked her, sitting down in the chair opposite her and laying the parchment on the table between them.