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Change of Mind	By : hermyoneminusone Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 26841 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Draco lay unusually awake next to the sleeping Gryffindor. He eyed their less than private surroundings distastefully, and drew the curtains with his wand, engulfing them in semi-darkness. He sighed, glancing at Hermione. He was unsure of what had just occurred. Draco had never accepted an invitation to remain in another's bed, and yet, there he was.
Hermione was more than a “shag buddy,” and he couldn't deny it to himself even if he wanted to. There was something about her, something he couldn't put his finger on. She always kept him on his toes, and he liked that. She also had a mind like no other; despite her know-it-all attitude, Draco found her smarts to be incredibly attractive. He watched her sleeping figure with a small sense of calm endearment. He could feel a tiny bubble of joy in his chest growing, more and more as it had been over the past few weeks.
He couldn't take it anymore. Ever so carefully, Draco withdrew from Hermione's warm bed, the bubble in his chest bursting almost instantly. He collected his stray clothing, dressing himself quietly. He had began pulling on his trousers when he heard the door handle creak as it began to turn. He froze, cursing himself for not casting some sort of disillusionment charm.
The door swung open to reveal Lavender Brown, followed by Parvati Patil. The girls abruptly stopped at the sight in front of them, mouths hanging open. Lavender looked as though she were about to scream, but then luckily caught a glimpse of Hermione snoozing in bed through her blood-red curtains. It clicked in her mind what had gone on, and her surprised expression was replaced with that of sly mirth.
Draco frowned at the sudden interruption, but when it became evident that no hexes were going to be thrown, he continued dressing himself. Lavender and Parvati began sniggering silently, enjoying the view of the topless young man in front of them. Draco never minded being admired, but their vantage point was beginning to unnerve him. He could have sworn the Patil twin muttered a “damn” as he bent over to pick up his shirt. He cleared his throat pointedly, but they did not falter. He finally buttoned up his shirt, and glared in their direction. The duo seemed to cringe at his stare. He smirked. That was more like it.
He picked up his wand and cast his strongest Disillusionment Charm on himself. They had left the door wide open for him, and he gladly made his way out.
~*~
Hermione awoke a couple of hours later, thirsty and fatigued. She focused her eyes to the dim lighting within her bed's canopy, and noticed the vacant spot beside her where Draco had been. She wasn't surprised that he didn't stay; she was impressed that he even accepted her offer in the first place. She rubbed her eyes and Accio'd her bathrobe from her closet.
Making her way to the showers, she thought about Draco and what had just transpired only hours ago. The mess with Zabini was undoubtedly a wake up call. If it had not been for her serendipitous conversation with her roommates, Hermione's relationship with Draco could have been leaked for everyone to know. Hermione's reputation within the castle would have been ruined, and she would have been a laughing stock amongst Slytherins. His reputation, on the other hand, would not have been tainted if a rumor about them floated about the castle. Draco probably would been applauded by fellow housemates for bedding the know-it-all Hermione Granger. So why did he bother confronting Zabini at all?
Although she felt that luck was on her side, much of the puzzle-solving came from Draco's end. He could have shrugged off what had happened to her, but he took some serious action and essentially cleaned up her mess. Draco Malfoy, helping Hermione Granger? It really sounded preposterous. But, Hermione couldn't deny that he had a choice in the matter. He chose to help her. He chose to tell her about it. And he definitely chose to have sex with her again. What was going on with him?
Now that she thought about it, she had never seen such a drastic change in someone's demeanor. The Draco she encountered now was less hostile and unpleasant than the Draco she knew months ago. Albeit his signature smirk and his usual snarky comments, the blonde had rid himself of the spoiled, bratty aura that once characterized his very existence. She figured he'd treat her differently since their relationship turned sexual, but she felt that there was something more than just civility. He looked at her differently. He had kissed her so sweetly earlier that she had no doubt there was something more there. He had to have changed.
Had other people picked up on the changes in the Slytherin's behaviors? Harry and Ron rarely commented on him, but then again, Hermione had barely spent any time with them recently… Thinking of her two best friends, her heart took an unexpected plunge into a cold pool of guilt.
How was she going to let them know what she had been doing? There was no way they were going to accept her involvement with the Slytherin. She could argue for Draco's case all she wanted, but it would be in vain. Although it was nice to have Lavender and Parvati to confide in, she couldn't keep her secret bottled up from her best friends. And she couldn't risk them finding out on their own – that would surely destroy their friendship.
Hermione shuddered as she felt her stomach twist in pain. She couldn't bear to lose Harry or Ron.
~*~
Shit. Hermione was late. Very late. Hermione Granger was never late, to anything. But there she was, frantically running through the castle, trying to get to the Quidditch field on time.
It was the season's last big game, with Gryffindor pitted against Slytherin. Harry and Ron had been talking about this game for weeks, discussing strategies, new work outs, and other ways to prepare. Hermione promised them she would be there, cheering them on. But she wasn't even outside the castle yet.
After what seemed like ages, Hermione scrambled over a grassy hill, sprinting towards the stadium. Once she reached the Quidditch pitch, she stopped to catch her breath and grab the painful stitch that formed in her side. Breathing hard, she ran up the aisles of cheering fans, searching for her familiar Gryffindors. She finally found an empty seat, and tapped the shoulder of the young man sitting next to it.
"Excuse me, but is anyone sitting here?" She asked breathlessly.
She was stunned to see that it was Harry sitting before her.
"Harry? What are you doing here? Why aren't you playing?!" Hermione shrieked, tugging at his arm in an effort to hoist him up. Harry wouldn't budge.
"Harry, where is Ron? Why aren't you on the field with him?"
Another face in the crowd turned to her. "I'm right here, Hermione." Ron said.
"What? Ronald! Why aren't you on the field?!" Hermione's words were laced with anxiety. What on earth was happening?
She turned her attention to the pitch, squinting to discern the tiny players zooming through the air. Was Gryffindor not playing? Draco flew by on his broomstick, and stopped when he saw Hermione's face in the stands.
"Granger, why the hell are you sitting with them?"
Hermione was bewildered. Did Draco really stop playing to ask her that?
"Get out of there!" Draco yelled, flying away. "You don't belong in there!"
Hermione looked down at her robes. She was wearing emerald green and silver; the Slytherin colors. Only then did Harry turn to her.
"Snakes belong in Slytherin!" Harry spat as he stood up.
"Harry, what are you talking about? I'm a Gryffindor!" Hermione desperately pleaded, retreating down the aisle.
"No you're not." Ron ground out, his face stern. "You're one of them now!"
He pointed his wand at her, and Hermione saw a white flash as she woke up in a cold sweat, her heart racing.
She placed a hand over her chest, and took a deep, steadying breath. She hadn't had a nightmare like that in a long time. She felt queasy, knowing that she couldn't keep what she'd been doing from Harry and Ron any longer. She lay back down, accepting what had to be done later that day.
~*~
Hermione sat in the Gryffindor Common Room the following morning, fidgeting in her seat. She heard the familiar laugh of Ron drift down the boy's staircase, and she felt her stomach tighten up.
"Hermione!" Harry said in surprise as he came out the stairway. "I didn't expect to see you down here."
Ron silently gave her a smile.
Hermione feigned a smile back. "I thought I'd walk down to breakfast with you two, since we haven't really seen each other much these past few days."
"Excellent!" Harry grinned, putting an arm over Hermione and Ron.
They made their way to the Great Hall, and once seated, Harry and Ron ate with as much gusto as they normally did. Hermione picked at her eggs and toast, and downed two cups of coffee.
Feeling even more jittery with all the caffeine in her system, Hermione stood up abruptly. "Do you guys want to take a walk? Perhaps around the Quidditch pitch?"
The boys were caught off guard, but agreed.
The trio walked in silence until they reached the pitch, the brisk air nipping at the exposed parts of their pink faces.
Hermione took a deep breath. "I know things have been a bit odd between us lately. We haven't hung out in what feels like ages, and I wanted to say I'm sorry if I made either of you upset because of it."
Ron furrowed his brow, and Harry nodded empathetically.
"The thing is, I haven't been completely honest with you two. And I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to tell you what's happened without ruining everything." Hermione bit on her fist to prevent the tears from falling.
"What do you mean? Hermione, is everything okay?" Harry put his arm on her shoulder, concern etched on his face.
Hermione shook her head. "Harry, I've done something, and I'm just scared that you and Ron won't find it in you to ever forgive me." This time, she felt the tears streaming down her face.
Harry laughed nervously. Ron had his hands buried in his pockets, and he busied himself kicking the dirt on the ground.
"What did you do?" Harry asked slowly.
"I've – I've been with someone." Hermione said shakily.
"What? Richard? Hermione, we already figured that you two might… you know…" Harry blushed awkwardly.
"No, not Richard. There was someone else." Hermione whispered.
Ron looked up at her with narrowed eyes.
"Who was it, Hermione? Did they hurt you?" Harry asked, alarmed. His unwavering concern made her feel sick, because she didn't deserve a single ounce of it.
She looked up at her two best friends with wide, teary eyes and shook her head no at Harry's question. She was about to answer, when Ron spoke up.
"It was Malfoy, wasn't it?" He said this bluntly, and it sounded more like a fact than a question. Hermione almost puked on the spot.
"What?! Malfoy? What a load of bollocks, Ron!" Harry turned to his red-headed friend with annoyance. This wasn't a time to joke around.
Hermione remained silent.
"Hermione… is this true?" Harry asked in disbelief, turning to the brunette.
"Harry, of course its true! Look at the way she's acting! If it were anyone else, anyone else, d'you think she'd be like this?" Ron yelled, his face red.
A fresh wave of tears streamed down Hermione's face. "I – I didn't mean for it to happen. It was so sudden, and then it got complicated–"
Mocking, derisive laughter rose deep from within Ron's chest. "Complicated? Are you seriously trying to explain yourself, Hermione? There is NO excuse for being with Draco fucking Malfoy!" He turned and threw a violent punch at the stands behind him.
Harry was speechless. He looked up at his friend, betrayal and hurt shining through his green eyes.
"After everything he's done to us, Hermione? How could you possibly think it would be okay?"
Hermione slowly shook her head. "He's changed." She whispered, bracing herself for their skepticism.
"People like him don't change!" Ron snapped angrily.
"I – I know it's hard to believe, but please, just try and understand. I'm not asking you to be friends with him! But please, just tell me you won't hate me because of all this!" Hermione sniffed, wiping the tears from her face.
Ron shook his head. He was beyond any sort of persuasion. "I hope you enjoy being treated like shit, Hermione, because you know you're lying to yourself if you think he sees you any differently." With that, he turned on his heel and made his way back to the castle.
Harry stood still for a few moments. "Are you still seeing him?" He asked quietly.
Hermione faltered. She wasn't expecting him to ask that, but she didn't want to lie to him any longer. She nodded her head yes.
"Are you going to stop seeing him?"
She felt her stomach tighten painfully. "I – I don't know."
Harry chuckled darkly, and rubbed his temple. "Ron was right. You're really lying to yourself, Hermione! What on earth makes you think he's changed in the slightest? Because he's nice to you now? Because you think he likes you? Do you not remember the things he's said to you? The things he's done to us?"
"Harry, I know you think I've gone mental but please, please try and see things from my perspective. I can't change what happened. If I could go back in time and prevent all this from taking place, I would. But the fact of the matter is it did happen, and I find myself in this awful position now. I'm not saying I'm choosing between him or you and Ron – if Ron ever speaks to me again – because this isn't a game, Harry. You're my best friend, and I'll never let anything get in the way of our friendship. All I'm asking is for you to have an open mind and trust me on this. Please…"
A painful silence ensued. Hermione felt increasingly anxious as the seconds passed.
Finally, Harry looked at her through sad eyes. "Never in a million years did I think that you, the smartest person I know, would do something like this."
Hermione stood still.
He sighed. "The fact of the matter is that what you've done has gotten in the way of our friendship, and you're right, you can't fix that. But what I really don't understand is why you refuse to end things with him. He's conniving and manipulative, and he's probably using you, Hermione! How could you be so blind to that?"
Hermione knew that Harry's words made sense, but she couldn't bring herself to believe them. Harry didn't know what she knew. He hadn't seen what she'd seen.
"Harry, please, just try to see that he's changed. They're small changes, but they're there." Hermione knew that her words made no difference to the young man standing before her. She could see it in his face.
"I just – I just can't find it in me to be okay with any of this." Harry's words pierced her in a way she wasn't expecting. "I'm sorry," he muttered quietly, before turning back to the castle.
Hermione watched him slowly trudge away, until she couldn't make out his figure in the distance. She stood outside for a long time, staring off into the snowy mountains that bordered the grounds. She had never felt so alone in her entire life.
- 12
- 13
- 14
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