For days, Hermione avoided Ron even though she can feel that he wanted to talk to her. It's just that, she's still not ready to finally talk to him. Luckily, Draven's presence is helpful.
Draven knew that Hermione and Ron are still not on good terms, and him being a good friend, he tried to make her happy and somewhat forget their fight. After all, he only wants to make her smile every day.
"You already preparing for later?" Theo went inside of their dorm and looked at Draven who is choosing an outfit for Slug Club's dinner party later. "It's still 6 in the evening huh?"
"Why? Is it bad to prepare ahead of time?" Draven said as he picked up a navy-blue crisp polo and a black jacket. "What do you think?"
"I'm not your stylist, bro." Theo joked but he just glared at him. "Well, it's fine. All clothes suit you just fine as always, bro."
"By the way, did you know where Draco went?" He asked him while wiping the shoes he'll use later.
"He's at the library with Pansy and Tracey, doing homework I guess." Theo shrugged and lay down on his bed. "I'll be alone here later then."
"Why don't you hang out with Daphne? I bet she would love company." Draven suggested but Theo just covered his face with a pillow. "Why?"
"Nah... I'm too shy." He said in a small voice and Draven just laughed.
"Then suit yourself being alone here." The Malfoy boy picked up his towel and went inside the bathroom.
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Hermione was wearing a simple long sleeve sweater and her hair is slightly curled though it's still wavy and she's still beautiful. Ginny was also coming together with Harry.
The three of them went out of their common room when they saw a familiar figure standing at the stairwell just outside the Fat Lady's painting.
"He's been waiting for you, Hermione." The Fat Lady spoke that made the bushy browned-haired girl smile a bit. "I told him that he's in the wrong door but he insisted that he is in the right house."
Draven decided to fetch Hermione in surprise. And the Gryffindor's priceless smile to him means that she loved it. He saw Harry and Ginny's exchange knowing glances at each other.
"Seems like you have company, Hermione. We'll get going." Harry said, offering his arm to Ginny to cling into.
"Don't mind us, please. And Hermione, be grateful that you're not third-wheeling anymore." Ginny joked and she went down with her boyfriend.
Hermione then turned to the white blonde boy beside her. His hair is slicked backward, which makes him a lot more handsome. He is wearing a good set of a smart casual outfit, and she nodded appraising his look for tonight.
"You sure know to suit yourself up." Hermione complimented him. "You look handsome."
Draven felt a bit red hearing her praise for him. "You also dress very well, Granger. Don't beat yourself too much. I say you look perfect."
He then offered his arm, just like what Harry did with Ginny. Hermione gladly wrapped her arm onto his as they started walking down the stairs. She looked at him, smiling like her night was already complete.
Draven Malfoy surely makes her feel this way. She never thought that it would be him, from the family of purebloods, and the rival house as well but Hermione knows that he is different because she feels right whenever she's with him. With Draven Malfoy, Hermione Granger is always all right.
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The dinner party was in full swing. Professor Slughorn greeted them as they arrived.
"Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger! How lovely to see you both here. Thank you for accepting my invitation of, course." Professor Slughorn said, looking at both of them. "My my, don't you quite look like good together, aren't you?"
Hermione felt her cheeks rush and Draven just chuckled but, in his mind, he's feeling butterflies on his stomach.
"We're both good friends, Professor," Hermione said, looking at the white blonde boy. "And well, he's my student too."
"Oh yes. The remedial sessions. Your grades are getting back on track, Draven. And I think Hermione here is a great teacher." Professor Slughorn smiled at Hermione and patted her shoulder.
"Yes Sir. She's a great tutor. I owe it all to her." Draven glanced at Hermione who just bowed her head, feeling modest.
"He's also a good student, Sir. He can easily learn." She praised him too, which makes Slughorn clap his hands.
"Very well. You two look good together. I've never seen a Gryffindor and a Slytherin being good friends and all..." Professor Slughorn beamed at both of them. "You're breaking the rivalry, kids. Well then, I best not spoil the fun for you. You can now find your seats at the table."
Draven and Hermione thanked the old professor as they walked towards a large round table. Harry and Ginny were sitting together, while Blaise was there too as well. There were some students older than them, and one of them is Cormac McLaggen who looks at Hermione maliciously.
"He's here," Hermione whispered to Draven's ear and she felt his hand grasp hers. She felt comfort and squeezed her hand back at him.
"Don't worry, he won't be able to lay a finger on you tonight." He whispered back, then glared at McLaggen.
Professor Slughorn then arrived as well as he gave the students the freedom to get their food on the table. Afterward, he raised his goblet and all of the students also did the same.
"To Hogwarts' best and brightest!" Professor Slughorn said as all of the students clunk their glasses together.
"Here! Here!" Cormac said like he was being told to do so. And it's annoying actually.
The students started to eat the food as Neville looked at the arrays of forks and spoons beside his plate.
"Which one do I use for the soup?" He asked and Hermione helped him pick the right one. Neville gave her a grateful smile as McLaggen winked at Hermione.
Draven saw it happened that is why he quickly grasped Hermione's hand, gently and that made her assured that nothing will happen. Throughout the dinner, the Slytherin boy just held her hand under the table every time he will have a chance and the Gryffindor girl wouldn't mind at all. She loved the way Draven makes an effort to let her feel comfortable even though Cormac is lurking around, and staring at her.
"So, tell me, Cormac. See much of your Uncle Tiberius these days?" Professor Slughorn asked him while the members of his club are now eating their ice creams for dessert.
"Yes, sir. I'm meant to go hunting with him and the Minister for Magic over the holiday." McLaggen told them, with a bit of arrogance in his tone. He liked being the center of attraction but Draven just scoffed lightly, enough for Hermione and Harry to hear.
Professor Slughorn also talked to Marcus Belby. He told the students that Marcus' uncle was the maker of the Wolfsbane Potion. His gaze then turned to Draven.
"How's the Malfoy family business going, Draven? Your father and I seldomly talk since I know how busy he is." Professor Slughorn asked Draven who was drinking water from his goblet.
"Well..." Draven started. "It's going great, I think. He also rarely writes us letters so I don't have that much idea about it but as far as I know, it's fine."
"The Malfoys are one of the wealthiest wizarding families and Lucius was once part of my club when he was a student here." The old professor exclaimed. "The red wine you're having is from the Malfoy Apothecary, one of the finest wineries in Britain."
"I kind of recognized it, Sir," Draven said to him.
Slughorn then smiled and turned his gaze on Hermione beside him. "And you, Miss Granger? What is it your family does in the Muggle world?"
"My parents are dentists. They tend to people's teeth." Hermione told him, that made the old professor nod in fascination.
"Fascinating. And is that considered a dangerous profession?" Professor Slughorn asked her, full of enthusiasm.
"No. Though, a boy named Robbie Fenwick did bite my father once. Needed ten stitches." The bushy browned-haired girl told them and the old professor nodded.
"I'm sure it was painful," Draven whispered to Hermione's ear and she just chuckled.
"Yes. It was. Though it was only once." Hermione took a bite of her dessert.
"That is why you have a perfect smile." The Slytherin boy uttered, making Hermione flustered, her breathing's quick but she didn't let Draven see him in that state.
"T-Thanks." She stuttered a bit and gulped her glass.
The whole dinner is great and went smoothly except McLaggen's nasty stares at Hermione the entire night but Draven made sure that he won't be able to make his move again.
"Thank you, one and all, for a most stimulating evening. We'll have to do it again." Professor Slughorn said as the students went to say their goodbyes. Harry and Ginny were both still talking to the old professor so Draven and Hermione then decided to go back to their common rooms first.
"I'll walk you back again, Granger." Draven casually said then suddenly realized. "I-If you want to. Well, I can also you know, walk back to our rooms but it's already night and I can't bear to leave you alone."
But instead of answering or replying to what Draven said, Hermione just grabbed his hand. "Walk me back to our common room, Malfoy?"
Draven smiled and just enjoyed the night stroll with her, holding hands, no words uttered. Just pure silence, yet it was enjoyable. It was a perfect night walk indeed.
"There's a lot of stars tonight." Hermione pointed at the night sky and dragged Draven outside of the halls. It's indeed a starry night as the bushy browned-haired girl admired the constellations above.
Draven took the chance to glance at Hermione who was still mesmerized looking up at the sky, smiling. It felt like everything went in slow motion.
'I wonder if she likes me back...' Draven thought, smiling hopefully. He was hoping, and will always be hoping that she would feel the same. This particular brunette girl already captivated her from the start, and he won't get tired of looking at her and falling in love with her. She's the only woman whom he loved ever since. His love for her won't fade. And will never get lost. Hermione Granger is the only woman in Draven Malfoy's world. He then quickly shifted his gaze upward as Hermione looked at him.
'I wonder if he likes me back...' Hermione's thoughts echoed as he looked at the white blonde boy, his eyes are reflecting the stars' brightness. He is beautiful, just like the soul he has. She knows that she is not like the rest of his family. She just knows that Draven Malfoy is different from them.
And him being Draven Malfoy, made her fall in love with him...
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(A/N: Hi. Just wanna say hi to you my dear readers. Hope you're still enjoying it. I still have a lot of surprises for this story.)