The Wisest Mind

Things got very strange after that.

After that day, Draco stopped pulling faces about sitting next to Hermione, and didn't even move his chair right to the edge of the desk to get as far away from her as possible. Classes were suddenly very different - instead of directing their arguments towards Professor Vector, Hermione and Draco would discuss the topics between themselves. It was all Vector could do to get them to pause long enough to let her tell them some pertinent fact or argument before they were off again, throwing references and theories back and forth so quickly that they stumbled over the complex terminology. Then they developed a shorthand so that they could talk even faster, and Vector found herself leaning forward to listen carefully just to keep up with them.

One day, they were so absorbed in arguing over a new theory that Vector had brought to their attention that they didn't hear the bell ring for the end of the lesson. The next class to use the room, a group of third-years who had only recently started studying Arithmancy, were already coming in and sitting down by the time Hermione and Draco put their things away and headed out of the room, still talking animatedly.

'Goodbye, Professor Vector!' Hermione called over her shoulder as they exited. 'But seriously, Malfoy, I don't think you've been keeping up with the new experiments, because Helfer clearly states that...'

'Don't you have a class now?' Draco asked. 'You don't want to be late again.'

'It's alright, Charms is cancelled this afternoon,' said Hermione. 'We can keep talking about this.'

She froze as she realised that she had just offered to spend her free time with Malfoy. But he didn't seem to notice anything amiss.

'Alright,' he said. 'But where shall we go?'

'The dungeons?'

She stared at him. 'Really?'

'Yes, haven't you explored them at all? Some of them are quite nice, and nobody ever goes down there. You don't want anyone to see us, do you, Granger? You know neither of us can afford that.'

'Lead on, then,' she shrugged.

So he was aware of the strangeness of the situation. And he was right. There was no way she could let Ron and Harry find out that she and Malfoy were talking now. They would be horrified. They might never speak to her again. And Malfoy had a reputation to protect. And so, she followed him down to the dungeons.

'You were right, this isn't bad,' said Hermione, as Draco led her into a room she had never known existed. It was a dungeon, true, but it was furnished rather well, with several armchairs and antiques dotted about.

'This used to be the Staff Room,' he told her. 'But nobody uses it any more. I found it a couple of years ago - I come here sometimes when I want to be by myself.'

He sat in one of the armchairs and she did the same. She felt a little uncomfortable. Perhaps it was the cold of the leather chair.

'So, what were you saying about Helfer?' he asked, after a moment.

'Well, I...' she began, then stopped. 'You know, between there and here, I've lost my train of thought...'

'Me too,' he admitted. 'This is weird.'

'What, that you and I are sneaking off together to talk about Arithmancy? I should say so.'

'Well, yes, but... we're talking. Like ordinary people. It's very peculiar.'

'Well, aren't we ordinary people? I know I am.'

'Yes, but I'm a Pureblood and you're a...'

Perhaps it said something about the time they had spent together that Draco didn't finish the sentence, but the word hung in the air between them anyway, unsaid but not unheard.

'How can you believe that makes any difference?' asked Hermione. 'When I'm clearly better at magic than you are.'

'There's no clearly about it!' Draco retorted.

'Isn't there? I've beaten you in every exam we've ever taken, and gotten better marks in class. That seems reasonably clear to me.'

'That doesn't mean anything,' said Draco. 'I'm good when I need to be. And when I don't need to be, I find it more prudent to appear... a bit more average than I am.'

'Oh?' said Hermione, sarcastically.

'Well, think about it. Since you got here you've been teased for being clever. I never have. Your friends make you do their homework all the time. Mine never do. Your teachers expect you to be on top form all the time. Mine don't. My way is a lot easier. I lie low. Nobody knows how clever I am.'

'Well then, you've let the cat out of the bag in Arithmancy this term,' she noted. 'You haven't exactly been lying low, have you?'

'Well, nobody's in the class but us,' he said. 'And you're not going to tell anyone, are you?'

'No. Everyone I know would be horrified that I'm associating with you.'

'Well, exactly. And I can't sully my Slytherin credentials by being seen with you.'

'And besides, I hate you anyway. The fact that we... that we...'

'That we get on so well?' Draco said, raising an eyebrow.

'Yes! That doesn't mean that I hate you any less.'

'Well, I return the sentiment.'

'Good.'

'Good.'

They sat and glared at one another. Hermione stared fiercely at Draco. With his face all screwed up and pointy like that, he really did remind her rather strongly of a...

Hermione burst out laughing.

'What? What's so funny?' Draco asked.

She shook her head, pressing a hand to her mouth to keep the laughter in.

'I just suddenly remembered that whole ferret thing,' she managed, after a minute.

'Oh, that's wonderful,' Draco said, bitterly. 'Nobody's ever going to forget that, are they? My whole future will be marred by the fact that I happened to be turned into a rodent as a punishment!'

'You must admit, it was pretty funny,' Hermione said. 'And, incidentally, ferrets aren't rodents, they're carnivores.'

'It wasn't funny! It was very traumatic! I'm sure it looked amusing, but did you ever stop to think how horrible it is to be changed into something else without knowing what's going on? Not knowing whether you'll be turned back? Well, did you?'

Draco was red in the face, his eyes wide with anger. Hermione sat back, shocked at the sudden transformation.

'I'm sorry,' she said. 'I didn't know. I never thought...'

'No, nobody did!' said Draco. 'Not even my so-called friends! Nobody understands.'

'What about Crabbe and Goyle? Didn't you tell them?'

'Tell Crabbe and Goyle that I was upset? For one thing, if it got out, it would ruin my reputation forever. And for another thing, they wouldn't understand! They just don't have the sensitivity!'

'Why are you even friends with them?'

'Sometimes I don't even know! All they're good for is looking menacing and doing what I say. You can't even have a proper conversation with them! And Theo and Blaise are alright, but they have their own circle. And Pansy just wants to fawn over me, which gets very boring after a while. There's nobody to really talk to.'

'That must be difficult,' said Hermione, feeling rather sorry for him in spite of herself.

'It's the curse of being born a Malfoy,' he said. 'We're always controlled, always dignified. It was drummed into me that I should hold myself apart from others, not let them too close. I was always taught never to give too much away. And I gave so little away that nobody really knows me.'

Hermione nodded sympathetically.

'But I'm not like my father,' he continued. 'I feel things. I take after my mother's side - the Blacks were always emotional. But nobody knows.'

'Well... you just told me,' said Hermione.

'I suppose I did.' He looked as surprised as she did.

'Why on Earth would you do that?' she asked.

He considered. 'Perhaps it's because you can't tell anybody,' he said. 'You can't, can you?'

'No. And I wouldn't, even if I could. I'm good at keeping secrets.'

'So am I.'

'So that's one more thing we have in common,' Hermione mused.

'I suppose it is.'

'That, and being clever. And Arithmancy, of course.'

'Of course, Arithmancy. Um... did you remember what you were going to say about Helfer?'

She smiled. 'In fact, I did. And it completely invalidates the point you made in class.'

He leaned forward, eagerly, the agitation of the previous moment all but forgotten. 'Do tell.'