Chapter 9: At Hogwarts

I am so sorry to have you all waiting for over a year (nearly two). I had planned to write another chapter but I completely forgot. So here it is. :) (it's some sort of a prequel but it takes place before this story's prequel.)

Hogwarts library

Even though OWL examinations were still months away, Hermione spent most of her free time without Harry and Ron in the library.

As Hermione was always very quiet and always placed books back on their rightful place, she was Madam Pince's favourite student and could always ask her for a favour.

Hermione had taken a place at her usual table in the corner behind a big bookshelf so nobody could see her. Hermione had about ten different books in front of her, some were books about school subjects and the others were for her research for the DA.

It was lunchtime so every student en even madam Pince was in the great hall. Yet Hermione had a feeling she was being watched. Since Umbridge had started the inquisitorial squad every member of the DA had gotten these suspicions. Through the gaps between books Hermione had a clear sight of the entrance to the library but nobody had passed for a few hours

Draco joined the inquisitorial squad to keep up a reputation with his friends. Not even Crabbe and Goyle knew what Draco really thought of Harry Potter and his friends. At first when he was only eleven he did follow his father's beliefs and was jealous of Harry Potter's fame, now on the other hand he knew his father had been wrong all along but revealing this to his classmates was unthinkable. Not only did he continue to bully Harry Potter and his friends but he had developed a crush on Hermione Granger.

The first OWL exam would take place in a couple of days and Hermione was on her usual spot in the library. One would expect the library to be fully crowded at this time of the day but there were barely five people in the library. Many students had borrowed library books and taken them to their dormitory or common room to study quietly, also the fear of breaking any decrees had increased greatly.

The other four students in the library were concentrating very hard on their books and not paying attention to anything happening around them. Nobody had noticed that someone had entered the library and moved close to Hermione's spot.

Draco Malfoy's real thought had been boiling inside him for a year now, he had to tell someone. His friends would be too stupid to understand any of it and walking up to Harry Potter with a big smile would be suspicious. In Draco's mind Hermione Granger was his best chance, she would not only listen him out but also be clever enough to think about what he has to say.

Draco took his wand out held it in his hand and took the courage to appear in Hermione's sight. Hermione looked up at him and glanced at his wand. Draco quickly placed it on one of her books.

"I'm unarmed now, I need to talk to you." Draco whispered.

"Why should I?" She whispered back with a puzzled expression on her face.

"I've got information. I can help."

"Why should I believe you?"

Draco hadn't thought this plan through and expected it to go a bit more smoothly. Then he remembered something important that he had done.

"The note!"

"What note?" Hermione whispered.

"The note about Rita Skeeter being a animagus. You got it around Christmas." Draco whispered and moved a bit closer. "I sent it."

Hermione had kept that note a secret from Harry and Ron. On Christmas together with her other presents was a small envelope containing a note.

You want to know how Rita Skeeter gets her information,
then keep an eye out for beetles.

Someone who wants to help

"Why would you send it to me?"

"I'm not like my father. I thought that him being a death eater was a good story, that's all."

"Then why aren't you being more helpful. You could have protected Dumbledore's army instead you handed us to Umbridge."

"You-know-who would kill me personally if he knew that I was helping Harry Potter." Draco looked around to see if nobody was eavesdropping, then he moved very close to Hermione and whispered. "Meet me in the room of requirement tonight after dinner, alone."

When Draco backed off again Hermione had a good look on his face and unintentionally locked eyes with him. Draco left quickly when he heard a noise. Hermione didn't think of actually going until she saw his face, Draco had a serious expression mixed with fear and desperation."

Draco went as far from the library as possible so nobody would think he had been there recently. He was extremely nervous, he had revealed a side of himself nobody had ever seen before to the person who was the least likely to see it. He hoped that Hermione would believe him. He knew that the scene he had pulled off in the library could easily be a trap in Hermione's eyes.

Draco spent the rest of the afternoon in his dormitory and then went to dinner as usual. He could see Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table but she didn't look at him the entire dinner.

Half of the great hall was empty now and Draco had made up an excuse to his friends so he could leave without being followed. When he was at the entrance to the great hall he looked at the Gryffindor table to lock eyes with Hermione again and headed to the seventh floor.

He had thought this part through. He needed a room that only he and Hermione Granger could find and enter and it had to convince her that he was on her side.

A small door appeared in front of him. Inside he found a comfortable sized room with two sitting chairs placed opposite of each other. Against the walls were bookshelves with all kind of books, Draco hadn't seen them before. He sat down in one of the sitting chairs and pointed his head towards the door.

Ron only finished eating twenty minutes later. On their way to the common room Hermione pretended that she had forgotten to return one of her books and left to the library before either Harry or Ron could follow her.

Hermione made a little detour and went to the seventh floor. She took out her wand and carefully opened the door.

Even thought Draco he had a wand pointed at him, a smile with gratitude appeared on his face. Because of that Hermione lowered her wand and took place in the seat opposite him.

Thanks for reading, I'm writing a next chapter. If you find any mistakes in the story or in my grammar feel free to tell me.