Innocent

c h a p t e r t w e l v e

"WAIT!"

Hermione's voice raised an octave as she called out. Draco turned around slowly. 

"What is it?"

"Just for today, let's talk." She paused for a second, "Rule five, free talking is allowed."

"These rules are stupid."

"Fine!" She snapped. "You make them.

Draco stood there silently, before quietly walking back to where he had been sitting earlier. For the first time in a while, she realized how tired he looked. His eyes looked murky, and his face was ghost pale. Since they had talked, he hadn't really spoken a word about him. It was all "muggle" stuff. Sure, she knew a lot about it, but it wasn't exciting. 

"Fine just finish what you wanted to say."

"Just talking, like friends..."

"Look, we are basically done with the project. There's no need to keep this alliance up for any longer," Draco said. 

She could feel her spirits dip under his tone. So this really was it. For some reason, she thought she was pushing down the barriers built up from years before. In one sentence, the walls had rearranged themselves. She nodded slowly. 

"Just for today, then."

"Fine."

"Shake on it," Hermione said stretching her hand out. 

Draco shook her hand. His hand felt enveloped hers, and a sorrowful part of her felt like it was the last time they would be this close. 

"Why don't you want to keep the alliance up?"

"There's no need for it. We did what we needed to do." His voice sounded impatient. 

"That's not fair. You know about me being a werewolf. I don't know anything about you."

"You know enough."

"Yeah, but once the alliance is down, you'll probably tell others."

He scowled, picking at the edge of his wand.

"Why would I?"

"I don't know, maybe because I'm Hermione Granger. "

"I'm not going to tell anyone about you being a werewolf," he snarled, "It's your life."

She clenched her fists. The faint flames of annoyance burned the edges of her compassion. 

"But I still don't know anything. For this to work, you have to give me something."

"Remember the contract, no personal questions," Draco mocked. 

"You already know a ton, and I don't know anything-"

"We aren't friends, Hermione. When this is over... we can end this fake thing."

Hearing him say her name bought no joy. She wished he had just called her "Granger" and left her to have an anxiety attack in the middle of Astronomy. The truth in his words was a mental overload. She tried to process, but her mind was already thinking of something to fire back at him. 

"You are the only one who thinks this is fake."

"Fine then."

"What?" Hermione asked. "Are you afraid of being friends?"

Draco's shot her a death glare. Chills trickled down her spine.

No matter what she would say, she knew he would walk away.