On Borrowed Time

On Borrowed Time

Chapter 04 - The New Draco (Sunday- September 8, 1996)

The first school week had gone by with rumors of Draco Malfoy's death circulating all over school. Of course, many rejoiced at the news and all were surprised to see a walking-talking miracle the day after. And although everyone knew Hermione was the one who saved Draco from possible death, many thought it was quite nice of her to have let pass his cruelty to her and saving his worthless life anyway.

Besides that, the week went by with minimal problems. Classes went on and the teachers were are tough as ever. Hermione got back on track but with the Time-Turner, she felt a little stressed by the amount of work she had to take with all the extra classes she had to take. Therefore, by the end of all her classes today, she decided to give the Time-Turner back to the headmaster and cut the amount her schoolwork down to half.

At the moment, Hermione sighed loudly before dropping the dust-covered cloth by the foot of the potions cupboard she was cleaning. She then restacked the newly wiped vials and bottles back to their respective places before reaching for the mop by the door and cleaning the rest of the Potions classroom. One may wonder why she was doing such a task since she had always been the one to reinforce school rules. The reason behind it was fairly simple and can be explained by only two words: Professor Snape.

Hermione did not expect their dear old Potions professor to be a bit nicer now that Voldemort was gone. However, she expected him to ease off Harry's case. Apparently, Snape still seemed to enjoy taking points off and sending Gryffindors -especially Harry- into detention.

Snape found Harry and Hermione making out in the hallways as they were heading towards his class, and he decided to punish both of them separately. Harry was given the dangerous task of disposing some questionable potions while Hermione was stuck doing the dirty work.

When not even a speck of dust can be found in the area she was assigned to, she washed her hands on the sink and headed out the door.

"Hermione!" shouted someone by the classroom door. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" she asked. "I have a reason to be here."

"I was doing some research on certain potions. I was planning to return some books that I had borrowed for this last summer. I heard you were cleaning the potions lab and I decided to drop by. Oh, hang on. You have some dust by your shoulder."

Draco dusted off the dirt on Hermione's shoulder, moving the hair from her face to behind her ears.

"I suppose you were serving detention," he said as both he and Hermione started to walk. "...because Professor Snape caught you and Harry snogging."

"We were not snogging. And where did you get this information?"

"Slytherins have ears, my dear. Rumours spread like wildfire in the Common Room. Besides, Slytherins would be the first ones to notice the ten points off Gryffindor."

"Twenty, Draco."

"Exactly," he said as he giggled. "I just had the feeling it was the two of you."

"And what was that supposed to mean?"

"I have seen how you and Harry are googly-eyed with each other."

"We are not!"

"I am not blind, Hermione. If you two were not proper people, I swear, the whole school would have found you undressed and---"

"If you continue that sentence, I will never talk to you again."

"Sorry. I won't talk anymore."

"Hang on," she said as she made a sudden halt. "Did I just hear a Malfoy say sorry?"

"Is there anything wrong with that?"

"What ever happened to cocky Mr. Malfoy?"

"I thought I told you. This is the new me. I've turned over a new leaf, remember? I made Crabbe and Goyle fend for themselves for a change, looked for new friends, which are quite hard to find---"

"I think you've gone to the extreme though. I think it's better that you stay the way you are."

"You want me to be a pain in your behind again?"

"No. What I meant to say is that stay the way you were, without the meanness. I mean, change to better yourself. But you don't have to lose your identity."

"Is that even possible?"

"You'll find the midway point."

"Are you always this optimistic?"

"I guess so."

"That's good to know. At least I know someone who can actually liven up my spirits when it needs livening."

"Heh heh," she giggled as they finally reached the Great Hall.

"Umm, do you want to eat at the Slytherin table with me?"

"I think Harry and Ron---"

"Say no more. I got the idea."

"But you can join us---"

"Nah, I'll leave you Gryffindors alone. I will see you in class tomorrow then."

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."

As she and Draco separated ways, Hermione noticed a few pairs of eyes, two in particular, glare at her as she approached them. She sat beside Harry without saying a word before reaching for a plate.

"Did you just walk into the Great Hall with Malfoy?" Ron asked her as she sat beside Harry.

"And what is wrong with that, Mr. Weasley?"

"Umm, 'you, walk into the Great Hall with Malfoy' was a key phrase in my sentence. All those words don't go all together unless it includes 'after you have turned him into a mindless zombie' towards the end of the sentence."

"Oh give the boy a chance, Ron."

"Give him a chance? Are you serious, Hermione?"

"If I did not give you or Harry a chance, what do you think would have happened ages ago if I didn't help with the Philosopher's Stone?"

Ron gulped loudly before answering.

"I don't even want to think of what would have happened! Harry, aren't you even a bit jealous that Hermione is siding with Malfoy? OW!"

"You ought to stop disagreeing with Hermione," replied Harry. "Before she finally breaks your kneecaps."

"I think it's already broken."

"Hermione does not care for Malfoy as much as she cares for me." He then glanced at her as he held her hand under the table. "You do care for me as more than you care for Malfoy, right Hermione?"

"Harry!" she scoffed. "That is not even a legitimate question."

"I know, I know. Let's just leave this matter alone then. Now, what do you want to eat, love?"