Song for the Chapter : Many of Horror ~ Biffy Clyro

Draco's POV

"I could ask you the same thing," sniffed Hermione. Her eyes were red and blotchy, and her face was streaked with tears. I hadn't seen her this sad since rumours flew around that she attacked Weasley with an army of birds - no, I couldn't believe it either. Okay, maybe I did feel a little bad for her. But I kept up my casual appearance (what did I tell you? O* acting) and smirked.

"Me?" I repeated indifferently. "Trying to run away from Pansy Parkinson." Hermione smiled a little but stared at her feet while she dusted herself down. I slipped my hands into my pockets and leaned back against the pillar. It was getting pretty uncomfortable, but if I moved now it would only make me look even more awkward.

"Now answer my question." Why was I talking to her? You know, I have no idea, either. Maybe it was because I hadn't spoken to a girl who wasn't Pansy Parkinson in literal days. Heck, I'd have rather spoken to any girl than Pansy. But despite myself, I was feeling pretty bad for Hermione. And maybe a little protective.

"Why do you want to know, Malfoy?" Asked Hermione defensively, folding her arms tightly across her chest. "Are you going to start gossip about me, or - or --"

I snorted. "I don't do that," I said conversationally, holding up my hands.

"Yes, you do," returned Hermione, the ghost of a challenging grin on her face. I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, fine. Yes. I do. But I swear I'm not going to start gossip." I held up one hand, palm outwards. "Scout's honour."

"You don't even know what that is," laughed Hermione, drying her eyes on her sleeve. I raised my eyebrows at her. She took a deep breath, and started, "It's just - about Ron." I groaned. Literally all of her problems came from Ron Weasley. "He's been really selfish, and so I...might have punched him, and broken up with him, and I'm pretty sure everybody hates me now."

"You punched Weasley?" I repeated, admittedly a little in awe of her. "I salute you." Hermione smacked my arm angrily, her eyes starting to glaze with tears again.

"It's not funny!" She exclaimed tearfully. "I don't know what to do. I don't know why I'm talking to you. I'm late for my next lesson as it is, I should go." With that, she started to push past me, but she wasn't getting away that easily. I caught her arm and she froze.

"Wait!" I turned to face her and studied her blotchy face. "You're not okay. Just miss this lesson." Hermione's brow crinkled and she pushed my arm away from her, a mixture of contempt and confusion spread across her face.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked, starting up the steps and fumbling with her bag. "I'm fine, I --" She hesitated. In her hands she held a small, dog-eared Muggle photograph that I could just make out from where I stood as one of her and Weasley. The hands that held it trembled and before I could say "Pansy Parkinson looks like a pug" Hermione had launched herself onto me and thrown her arms around my neck.

That's not usually the reaction I get from crying girls, let me tell you.

She sobbed into my shoulder and I could feel her tears bleeding through my robes, but I didn't mind. Hermione was surprisingly warm, and she smelled of...nice stuff, I guess. Coming from Pansy Parkinson, who literally smelled of the strongest hairspray known to mankind every day, I guess anything else would smell good. But this smell was different.

No, I haven't gone crazy. Maybe a little. But she was the one hugging me and crying into me, so I rest my case.

Author's Note: Hi! This chapter was really fun to write, I love doing interactions between these two <3 If you have any song suggestions for this chapter or upcoming chapters, leave them in the comments and I'll put them up! Don't forget to vote and comment :)

P.S : Thanks to @Monabelle for adding Healed to your reading list!