Please comment if you enjoy, I like knowing whether or not I'm sending things into the abyss <3 (Also In the last chapter, I kept switching back and forth following Hermione and Draco and I sort of liked it so I'm going to keep doing it) Shout out to Grammarly, I wouldn't make any sense without it.
Draco Malfoy stood up, finished with breakfast. He had only had an oddly large green apple that he had mostly just tossed around in the air. His friends weren't much fun lately, mostly getting involved in Parkinson's drama or whining about the arranged marriage.
Draco wanted someone to talk to. Someone who could intellectually challenge him and have an actual debate with him instead of giving in because they're a love sick pug. But he didn't have time for that today because he needed to research the mirror. He headed straight to the library.
*
Hermione looked over at Harry and Ginny who sat happily, holding hands. Ginny caught eye contact with Hermione, she gave her a weak smile. Hermione had no appetite at the moment, she looked at food and just saw something that would keep her alive in this terrible world.
Glancing over at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy tossed a green apple around in his hand, It had a few bites on the side but it seemed that he had mostly just been tossing it. She sat, bored with her friends. Ron was busy sitting far away with his new girlfriend, Parvati Patil.
They had been paired up for marriage. His shallow behaviour and her girly behaviour matched together perfectly. They sat closely a few people down.
Hermione's attention was caught when there was movement at the Slytherin table across the room. Draco stood up and left the room. She quickly dismissed interest.
*
Draco entered the library and walked over to the desk. Madame Pince was sorting through books, ignoring his presence.
"Excuse me," Draco said, "Do you know exactly where I can find Hogwarts, A History?"
"Yes yes," She said hastily, "Right over there, third bookshelf to the top." She pointed a finger to a bookshelf. He nodded and walked over. Right where she said it was, the large book stood. He grabbed it and pulled it down.
Draco took a seat at a desk in the library, flipping the book open to the table of contents.
Mandragora's use in 1992,
Merlin's influence,
Mirror of Erised,
Aha.
He flipped to the page.
'erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'
"The hell?" Draco muttered.
*
Hermione got up from the table. Why did she even bother going to meals if she hardly ate anything? She'd usually only have some bread or fruit at dinner time and that was it.
It wasn't like she didn't feel hungry, she just found food unappealing. Hermione knew that she should be eating more and she knew that she was being extremely unhealthy but she couldn't bring herself to eat much.
She also hadn't been outside the castle since she arrived. She'd mostly just pay attention in class, get good grades, and lay around. She had enough thoughts to occupy herself in her alone time.
However, she didn't have that same spark in her that she first had when she arrived at Hogwarts at the age of eleven. This year she hadn't been raising her hand to answer and she wouldn't really answer at all unless she had been called on. She was just a shell of her former self.
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked, turning her head.
"Just-" Hermione said, "Library," She hadn't lost her love of books just because she wasn't confident enough to answer in front of a class. She'd still visit the library if she had time in the morning.
"Hermione, wait," Harry said. She turned around slowly.
"Yeah?" She said dully.
"Are you feeling alright?" Harry asked with concern.
"Why?" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows.
"You look sort of ill, and you haven't really been eating," Harry stated, looking up at the freckled brunette.
"I'm fine, don't worry," Hermione said, trying to convince Harry but mostly trying to convince herself.
"'Mione, I'm serious." He set his hand down on the table.
"What's it to you?" Hermione snapped, guilt flooding her realising she had almost yelled at her best friend.
"You really aren't yourself," Harry muttered, "You should go to the Hospital Wing and see if you're healthy."
Hermione sighed.
"I'm sure I'll be back to whatever you consider normal in a few days."
*
"I," Draco muttered.
"Show not your..."
"Face but your heart's desire."
He squinted at the book.
"Well, that's sappy." He muttered.
He tried to remember what the person in the mirror looked like. She had brown hair and was a tiny bit shorter than him. He didn't know anyone like this. Her skin was so beautifully pale and he couldn't see her face enough to get details.
He shook his head. Why should he bother falling for a figure he saw in a silly mirror when he was doomed to an arranged marriage with an insufferable muggleborn?
He had the answers that he'd been looking for but just wasn't satisfied. He stood up from the desk and put the book back. He walked out of the library.
*
Hermione turned the corner to enter the library, hitting someone. She almost fell over but the person caught her with their strong arm, lifting her back to her feet.
"Sorry," She muttered, then looked up, "Malfoy?"
"Granger," He said.
"Didn't think you'd be here." She said, making small talk.
"I know you don't want to talk to me so don't make this uncomfortable for the both of us, now go on and read your books," Draco said, close to a whisper, "Oh and also, watch where you're going."
Hermione looked at him, confused. She studied his facial expression. He looked like he didn't want to be here like he had business elsewhere but she knew that most likely wasn't true. She saw how he didn't speak to anyone at the table.
Her feelings mixed in a small bit of pity as she looked at him.
"I know I'm handsome but stop staring." He mumbled without getting enjoyment out of saying it. He just looked bored. She flinched, realising that she really had been staring a lot.
"Sorry." She whispered.
"Stop apologising, it's pathetic." Draco walked out of the library, not turning back.
*
Hermione tried finding more books on the Mirror of Erised. She had only found out a tiny bit about it in Hogwarts, A History, but she wanted more information about the handsome tall figure that had stood next to her, holding her hand and making her happy.
That person must be real, but this law would be getting in the way. Her heart's desire wouldn't be fulfilled if she was going to be forced to marry Draco. She frowned, sadness overwhelming her.
She decided she wanted to go back to the mirror to try and figure out who it was, even though deep down, she knew it would be giving her false hope.
*
Hermione stepped into the room, she didn't have much time because her next class was in fifteen minutes. This time, the room was lit with sunlight instead of moonlight. It had a different feel to it. She sort of liked it better at night. It felt safer almost, just her and the figure in the mirror.
The person appeared next to her, he leant down and kissed her cheek. The reflection of herself had a flushed face. Oh, how she envied her reflection, feeling emotion more than sadness and having freedom.
They laced fingers together, she wanted just to hug the person and be safe in their arms but she was only watching this happen and she'd never have anything remotely close to this.
*
Aha next chapter is going to be in class ;) -applause- I know I know I'm proud of myself for writing a chapter on a monday too <3
Also, I feel like my writing is really weird where I do like a large chunk of paragraphs, then all dialogue, then just a whole lot more paragraphs instead of combining it all together. Oh well.
(OH MY FFFUCK MY STORY ALMOST GOT DELETED BUT I RECOVERED IT :D)
![Pretty [DracoxHermione]](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/85465685-64-k673587.jpg)