When Draco Departs

It was a pre-Holiday month like no other. Usually, Decembers were cold and festive, slightly antsy but still organized for the most part.

This year, it was different.

Dumbledore was drunk. There were mistletoes sprouting everywhere at random places about the castle. The Gryffindor team had won their last match of the season and it was unexpected - not since Slytherin had their new transfer from France had they ever lost one game, but Harry's lucky catch saved them all and the school was a blurry red and gold cheer.

That, and Draco was leaving. Which made Ron particularly glad for the Holidays. The sooner it came, the sooner they would be able to return to school with no Draco.

"I wonder why he's leaving," Hermione mused to herself more than anyone as they stepped out of their last lesson - Potions, before the holiday break.

"Who cares. I've got to pack. Last year I forgot so much, I almost left Ginny behind." Ron rushed the two of them.

"He's better off at Durmstrang anyway," Harry said over his shoulder as they jogged to the Common room. "Dark Arts, right?"

She nodded. "But still, do you think it was really that bad for him here?"

"Hermione," Ron groaned. "Who. Cares. Let's. Go. It's the Christmas season! Sharing season! Giving season! Time to give! Give me a Malfoy-less conversation!"

"I hope we weren't so mean to him," Hermione continued, "that he would actually want to leave.

Harry looked at Ron. Ron looked at Harry. They burst into fits of laughter.

She glared. "I hope you and Pansy find yourselves under one of Dumbledore's mistletoes." She turned to Ron. "And I hope you find yourself under one too, with Dobby."

Ron stopped laughing. So did Harry.

"Hermione," Harry cried in a scandalized tone of voice. "You're taking Malfoy's departure really seriously aren't you?"

"It's not that," she insisted, tonguing her cheek. "I'm just really curious."

"Why? Because you care?" Ron sneered playfully.

She rolled her eyes and followed them into the Common Room. No more was spoken of Draco's leaving but Hermione never did stop thinking about it. Things would be different. She knew that much. She always thought ahead and she could already see the changes being made without Malfoy there. The Slytherin gang, for one, would need a new leader. Pansy would have a hard time having a long distance relationship. And without Lucius Malfoy putting a hand in the clockworks of Hogwarts, certain things would definitely be run different.

There was no other way to put it. There was no satisfaction quite as decent as the one she got from exiting a witty argument with Malfoy. No other type of glowing smugness that could replace the looks on his face when her 101 outshined his 99. And there would never, ever, be a bigger conquest than to ignore a prat like Malfoy.

"Ready?" Ron's voice interrupted her packing an hour later. "We're starving! Come down!"

So she walked down the stairs and thought no more of Draco Malfoy. This is silly, she thought. Just enjoy your last dinner at Hogwarts and relish in the thought of a good Holiday break of reading and hot mugs of tea.

"Mistletoe!" A voice interrupted her thoughts.

She looked around carefully and saw that she was standing right in front of the devil himself and a glittering stick of mistletoe was floating right in front of her.

Damn you, Dumbledore, she thought. Damn. You.

"Damn Dumbledore," she heard him curse under his breath. Slight appreciation rose in her for their balancing intellect.

"Oh, disgusting. Just ignore it, come one Hermione," Ron said.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. Trouble was on its way if she pursued anything at this point and she knew it. But she couldn't tear her eyes off Draco Malfoy, who stood in front of her. With his gloved hand, he held onto a uniform black suitcase and behind him floated another one.

He was leaving Hogwarts. So. Weird.

The Holidays always made her feel so incredibly nostalgic. She didn't know why, but she knew one thing for sure. She would miss Draco Malfoy.

She didn't like him, it was nothing like that, really. She would just miss the familiarity of the arguments, the constant annoyance of his witty banter and his cocky strides through the corridors.

It all came to her. She never got a chance to know him. She never got a chance to understand him. Why was he leaving? Probably not because of them, but maybe because he was forced to. Or maybe he really couldn't take it here anymore. Maybe because--

"Okay, we'll meet you there, I'm too hungry to wait around. Just kiss Malfoy and join us." Ron and Harry began making their way past her, and she stared after them - a confused Harry looking back at her.

Oh, goodness. What exactly was going on? Why was she suddenly feeling emotional over Draco Malfoy leaving?

Damn you, Dumbledore.

"Gonna miss me, Granger?" Draco asked her, smirking slightly and trying to balance his suitcase.

She didn't know how to respond.

"Grow up, Malfoy," she retorted.

"That's the plan," he said and then finally picked up his suitcase and began walking in the opposite direction.

No, she thought to herself. I was right. It will be so different without him.

"Hey, Malfoy."

He turned around to acknowledge her.

"Have a good Holiday,"

He hesitated to say something before he turned back around.

She held her breath.

"Relax Granger, I'll be back."

Or "I just might miss you a little, too."

And then, he finally spoke.

"...see you."

Turned around, walked, and didn't look back.

She swore she felt a little sad.

And she swore he smiled.

Just a little.