In The Head Lights - Chapter Three

Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, they are all the property of J.K. Rowling.

A/N: I realized that I had forgotten to add in a few words in my last chapter, thanks to the reminder to that review who let me know. It was about Dumbledore and whatnot, but that error has been fixed. Thank you for reviews and things, they make me happy :D

***

Hermione met Ron and Harry in Charms, glad to be rid of Malfoy for the time being. I mean sure, when he wasn’t be a complete prat he could be alright, even nice, but she was just so sick of him.

“Hey, guys,” she said wearily, sitting down between them. Ron kissed her cheek and Harry waved, and they pulled out their books. The tiny Professor Flitwick was standing atop a chair, and he waved his wand, sending fireworks out the tip, to get the attention of his class.

“Welcome to seventh year Charms, everybody!” he squeaked once the class had settled down. “Seventh year charms is very difficult in comparison to the other years, as you are preparing to get your N.E.W.T. in this subject. Today we will get to work on the Patronus Charm, though I know that several of you are fairly adept at performing it already.

“What one must do, is conjure a very happy memory, then repeat the incantation expecto patronum. I shall demonstrate. Expecto patronum!” Flitwick put much force behind his voice, and from the wand sprouted a silver owl, which flew around the classroom before retreating back into his wand.

The students who had not yet seen the charm performed were incredibly impressed, and the room burst into applause.

“Now, you may begin your practice!”

Harry went first out of the three of them, and in one easy movement, a stag burst from the end of his wand and galloped around the room.

“Well done, Mr Potter! Take twenty points for Gryffindor for that, though I dare say you’ve had some practice!” Professor Flitwick said, smiling broadly at Harry.

Hermione went next, and an otter shot out of her wand and zoomed around the class. After Ron had sent his Jack Russel patronus running around the room, yapping wildly, the three of them started talking. Professor Flitwick had checked that they were all at ease with performing the patronus charm, so let them talk for the rest of the lesson.

“Why’d you look so annoyed when you came in, Hermione?” Harry asked as he lazily made a quill hover in front of him.

“Malfoy joined my Ancient Runes class, and he has to sit next to me for the rest of the year,” Hermione sighed, watching the quill intently.

“Just ignore him. He’s not so tough now that his precious Daddy is in Azkaban and Mummy dearest is in Mungos,” Ron said, taking control of the feather from Harry.

“Ron! Don’t be like that. Malfoy’s been through a lot, okay. I mean, sure he’s annoying, but I feel sorry for him. His father was obviously a cruel man, and Narcissa saved Harry’s life,” Hermione scolded.

“So now you’re sticking up for the stupid ferret, are you?” Ron snapped, dropping his wand and the feather it held up.

“Well yes, because he doesn’t deserve to be teased and taunted like that,” Hermione defended Malfoy.

“She’s right, Ron. He may still be Malfoy, but with all the stuff that’s been happening to him over the summer, he must’ve changed. Hermione is right, Narcissa did save my life, and even though she may have been married to such a cruel man, I don’t think it’s right for us to be saying bad things about her behind her back after she save my life,” Harry said, and Ron went red. Hermione looked at Harry carefully. Ginny had definitely been right in saying he had changed. He too had matured greatly since the end of the war, and he looked tired. This was no doubt due to the fact that, according to Ginny, he had been plagued by nightmares.

“So now you’re sticking up for the git?” Ron rounded on Harry. Hermione scowled.

“Yes, I’m sticking up for him, Ron. You’re my best mate and everything Ron, but don’t push your luck, because at the moment I’m dead tired and not exactly in the mood to be messed with,” Harry said, his voice low and deadly.

“I don’t believe this!” Ron snapped, and got up to leave just as the bell for lunch went.

“He’s so ridiculous,” Hermione said exasperatedly to Harry as she shoved her books into her bag.

“I know, but he’s just being stupid. He’ll come around in the end, I hope,” Harry said, running his hand through his already messy hair. Hermione smiled at him, then frowned.

“Listen, Ginny was talking to me this morning about you. She said you changed, and she thought she’d done something. I know, I know, she didn’t do anything,” she assured him, as Harry looked like he had every intention of interrupting, “but you need to let her in. You need to share with her, she needs to know. She feels lost and cut out. Promise me you won’t lose her?”

“I couldn’t lose Ginny, Hermione. I’ll let her in, I promise,” Harry said, his voice thick with emotion. Hermione hugged him tightly, and Harry lent his head on hers.

“Thank you,” Hermione whispered as they broke apart. “I think I’ll go back to the head’s common room for lunch. Do you want to find Ginny and you two can come up with me?”

“Yeah, sure. We should probably give Ron some time to cool off,” Harry said, as the two walked to pick up Ginny from her Transfiguration class.

Hermione was pleased to see that Harry greeted Ginny with a very warm hug and a soft kiss, and smiled to herself as she led the way up to the portrait of Eve.

“Hello there, Hermione. How are you today?” the young woman in the painting asked. Her baby was awake, his blue eyes wide and bright as he looked around.

“I’m very well, thank you, Eve. How is your son?” Hermione asked, looking at the little baby.

“He’s quite well, just woke up,” Eve smiled.

“Bassinet,” Hermione stated, and the portrait swung open, admitting Hermione, Harry and Ginny. Harry let out a low whistle.

“Nice digs, Hermione,” he grinned as he sat down on a sofa and put his arm around Ginny.

“Do you guys want any food? Tea? Pumpkin juice?” Hermione asked as she dug through the pantry. They both said they would like tea, so Hermione put together a pot and poured them all some. Just as she sat down, the portrait swung open.

“Oh, how nice, Granger. Having a little tea party with your friends?” Malfoy drawled, smirking as he threw himself down next to Hermione and throwing his arm over her shoulders in a very casual manner. Hermione conjured another cup and poured some tea for Malfoy before handing him the teacup.

“Yes, actually, and it was quite nice before you came in,” Hermione retorted, matching Malfoy’s smirk with her own.

“Don’t let me distract you. Where’s the Weasel?”

“Not here, obviously.”

Harry and Ginny watched the banter between the two flow, both of them becoming increasingly confused. It wasn’t normal for Malfoy to act like this around Hermione, devoid of insults, and Hermione was taking his comments well.

“Well I can see that. Did you two have a little marital dispute?” Malfoy asked, getting comfortable.

“That’s none of your business, Malfoy, and what would it matter to you?”

“Nothing really, but it would put another conquest back on the market for the Slytherin Sex God,” Malfoy chuckled, and Hermione laughed with him.

“Um,” said Harry, and Hermione remembered she had guests.

“Oh! Sorry! Do you guys want food, I’m getting a bit hungry,” Hermione said, flustered. She stood up quickly and went rummaging in the kitchen.

“Nah, don’t worry about it, Hermione. We might head down to the Great Hall and see if we can talk some sense into Ron,” Harry said, standing up and pulling Ginny up with him. They both hugged Hermione and left with a wave.

Disgruntled, Hermione flopped back down on the couch.

“Sorry I scared off your friends, Granger,” Malfoy said, not sounding the least bit sorry. “What did Potter mean when he said they’re going to try and talk some sense into the Weasel?”

Hermione rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “He’s being thick-headed about something.”

“Isn’t he always thick-headed? Care to share?” Malfoy said, pouring himself another cup of tea.

“I was defending someone, he said that I was being stupid about it, then Harry agreed with me and Ron rounded on him. It was stupid,” Hermione explained.

“Who were you defending?”

“You.”

“Why were you defending me, Granger?” Malfoy asked after a moment, and his voice seemed stunned. Hermione sat up and faced him.

“He was insulting you for things that were out of your control and being completely unreasonable. I couldn’t have that,” Hermione shrugged.

“Couldn’t have that? It wouldn’t have bothered you a couple of years ago,” Malfoy seemed disturbed by how Hermione had reacted.

“No, it wouldn’t have, but you’re a different person now, a person I like, and I don’t want Ron to be mean to people I like,” Hermione said, dropping her shoulders slightly.

“You…like me?” Malfoy smirked, and Hermione rolled her eyes at him. She picked up the nearest pillow and threw it at him. “Hey!” he yelled, but laughed as he threw the pillow straight back at her. She ducked and poked her tongue out at him, and as he went to throw another pillow the bell to signal the end of lunch went, and both Hermione and Malfoy dropped their pillows, both breathless from laughing.

“Potions,” Hermione said brightly, and slung her bag over her shoulder. “You coming?” she asked, turning her head back to face Malfoy who was staring at her with an odd look on his face.

“Yeah,” he muttered, collecting his thoughts and grabbing his bag.

***

Draco walked quickly after Granger as they headed down to the dungeons for double potions together. He couldn’t understand what was happening to him. This was Granger, the mudblood. She wasn’t anything special. I mean, sure she had a nice body, but there were much nicer at Hogwarts, and she was dating that red-headed weasel.

When they reached the dungeons they sat at their separate tables, and Draco felt something growl deep inside him as he saw Weasel give Hermione what looked to be an apologetic hug and a kiss. He couldn’t, however, stop himself from smiling when Hermione looked over at him, and she grinned sheepishly and returned to making her potion.

A/N: Dun, dun, duuuun. Okay, so it’s getting a bit more interesting, or is that just me? As always, please R&R.