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It had been too dark, too quiet. There hadn't been a student up past curfew in several weeks and Hermione knew that she should have been relieved.
However, the quiet night always had a way of bringing up the worst- those memories that would play over and over again in her mind. Lavender's body in that corridor. Fred's body lying still on the ground. Tonks and Professor Lupin in the Great Hall.
It was too much sometimes and was always worse when she was alone doing her rounds. She had almost wished to catch a couple in one of the corners snogging or something.
While Harry and Ron had made the decision to complete their Auror training, Hermione opted to go back to Hogwarts. In the beginning it was wonderful. She was Head Girl like she had always dreamed, was taking all the classes that she actually wanted to take, and still had time to camp out at the library for a couple of hours each day.
But as the year progressed, her isolation and inability to sleep became more apparent. It didn't help that she surprisingly had Malfoy showing up behind her every time it seemed like she was going to pass out.
Much to her dismay he had actually gotten the position of Head Boy. McGonagall told her it was because of his noble actions during the war. Hermione didn't believe her. Simply saving the life of Harry Potter couldn't award someone with a reputation like Malfoy to get Head Boy, right?McGonagall knew how important that position was for not only their futures, but also for the school. Right?
"Granger" a voice suddenly said behind her.
Hermione spun around, immediately pointing her wand at the owner of the voice behind her, a spell threatening to fall from her lips.
Malfoy cursed, taking a step back. "No need to point that thing in my direction, witch."
"Oh really? And why not, Malfoy?" Hermione kept her voice even.
Who knew what he was up to this late. It's not that she believed he was still in alliance with any of the remaining death eaters, but regardless she could not find it in herself to drop her guard around him. They had too much history.
He took a step towards her, causing her wand to jab into his chest. "I'm not here ask for a death wish." He took another step closer, the wand pressing deeper into his chest and added, "Plus that's not a very good thing for the Head Girl to do."
"Don't take another step. What do you want?"
"To apologize, actually."
"Come again?" She raised an eyebrow and a smooth smirk slid onto his lips. Her eyes slid back up to his eyes looking for any sign of deception.
"That hard to believe, Granger? I thought you were more intelligent than that." He chuckled, glancing down between her and her wand. "Is that still necessary?"
"To want to actually apologize? You?" Ignoring him, she narrowed her eyes up at him.
This was the closest Hermione had been to him since their third year when she punched him in the nose. Hell of a punch too.
"Well you know that is something people that have regrets tend to do."
Did he actually think his stupid Malfoy smirk and witty comments were helping his case at all?
"So spit it out. What do you, Head Boy- Slytherin Prince- ex death eater-"
"That." He spit out.
He was no longer cocky, no longer smirking. His expression had morphed into something akin to frustration.
"I'm sorry for that. Everything that happened to Potter and Weasley at the Malfoy Estate, and especially to you. They had wanted me to be the one to kill Dumbledore. They wanted me to deliver Potter to Vol-" he shut his eyes, seeming to calm himself down. "They wanted me to identify both you and Weasley and then end your lives."
Hermione's eyes grew and her mouth fell open. Was it possible that he actually has changed?
"I faked it." He muttered. "I said that I couldn't tell who the three of you were even so it had been so fucking obvious. And they hurt you anyway."
It was like her brain was short circuiting. She didn't understand. Hurt...her? "I don't understand."
"I didn't kill Dumbledore." At this she dropped her arm that had been holding her wand. "I didn't plan for the three of you to come to the Malfoy Estate. I didn't mean for Bellatrix to hurt you. I didn't want to be so weak and worthless in the war. I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm sorry. I was on the wrong side. I'm sorry I didn't save you when you actually needed it."
He had been looking away from her as he talked, but as soon as he finished his eyes slid to hers. She blinked. It felt like eternity before she had actually said something, her brain attempting to comprehend everything. She searched his face for any lasting sign that he was lying, but found nothing. He was telling the truth.
"I'm sorry too." He raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that kind of response. "I didn't know. I just assumed- Merlin, I'm sorry."
She reached for his hand, attempting to be some sort of comfort. "Can we start again?"
A smile formed. He was actually smiling, and Merlin, she would be lying if she didn't think it had been the most attractive she had ever seen him.
"I'm Draco. Draco Malfoy. I've heard that some even call me the Slytherin Prince."
She smiled too, a thing she hadn't done in far too long. "Nice to meet you. I'm Hermione Granger. Also known as the Gryffindor Princess."
He smirked. Lifting their clasped hands, he shook them gently.
"Pleasure to meet you, Princess."