"Tell me again, Hermione, why would you think coming here is a great idea?" Malfoy rose his eyebrow when we stepped into the banquet hall on Valentine's day, "If I never loved you, I'd be as far away from this place as possible."
"Don't you think trying to get all Houses to get along is a good idea?" I straightened my back, acted as if I stood by my decision, yet I sounded defeated, "Look, all the Gryffindors are here. So are the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. And well, some Slytherins."
"Some Slytherin? You mean Parkinson, Zabini and I. They are here because they agreed to this absurdness," He said with disdain, "You see, the Gryffindor are here because of their self-righteousness and the despicable belief of how they are contributing to some greater cause. The Ravenclaws are here because they want to seem clever, classy and most importantly, strengthen their so-called friendship with the Gryffindors. And the Hufflepuffs, it's quite obvious they are here for the food, and they'd love to get themselves around who they think are the cool kids."
"Are you saying the Slytherins think they are better than the others and don't want to put any effort into amending the relations?" I curled my lips. We finally made our way through the crowd and sat down at a table in the furthest corner.
"First, we are better than you because we are all pure bloods," He acted serious but quickly changed his tone after seeing my expression changed, "Please, you know I'm joking. Or am I?"
"I'd like to think the Draco Malfoy I love no longer gives too much of a damn about bloodlines," I poured water into both of our cups and pushed his toward him, "Although I'm not entirely sure how and when that happened."
"Me neither," He shrugged, "But that contract of ours made me spend more time around you. It was better than I ever could expected. "
Normally, the conversation on this topic would stop right there. But since I determined to get him to open up to me, I swallowed down my nervousness and pushed a little further.
"And that changed your mind?"
"Sure," He squinted and turned a little tense, clearly not too comfortable talking about it, yet he continued, "It made me think. All these years, I was brought up to hate, to resent muggles, muggle-born wizards and witches. Those kinds of ideas were planted in me without giving me a choice. After started seeing you, I found myself questioning the beliefs I was told to have. It slowly became quite irrational, even foolish to me. Naturally, after that realization, I made the decision to choose the one I came to love instead of some old, prejudiced beliefs."
"Thank you," I reached over to grab his hand, seeing he squinted, I added, "For opening up to me."
"I did some thinking after the whole Parkinson drama," He said slowly, fixated his sight on the enchanted red oil lamp on the table that was radiating a warm, fuzzy pink light and a light rose scent, "I didn't think you'd be interested in knowing my affairs. I also must add that I am accustomed to keep my pathetic emotions to myself, they are not worthy of anyone else's time."
"Having emotions is not pathetic," I said gently and held his hand with both of mine, "I'd appreciate if you can tell me more about you. I'm sorry for being self-centered."
"It seems we both have something to apologize for," He smiled, "Though I do think we are able to work together."
I nodded.
"Now, would you care for a dance?" He stood up and bowed his hand, "On this boring, Gryffindor dominated floor."
"Not that I know how," I shrugged and took his hand, "But we shall try."
I couldn't believe I was dreaming. I was, indeed, dancing with Draco Malfoy. Under dim, pink and red themed light, among the floating paper hearts and stars, we were spinning around. He looked pale as usual, but there was something to him to him, something made him more attractive and enchanting than usual. No, it wasn't because of the suit he was wearing, and it was nothing superficial.
It was because he finally decided to slowly open up to me and accepted me into his complicated mind.
"I can't imagine what your father would say," I rested my head on his shoulder and whispered, "You know, about how you are dating me."
"Truth be told, Hermione," He said gently, "If this were to happen last year, to which it was completely improbable, I'd choose to care about his objection and disapproval. However, a war and many innocent deaths later, there's no point for me to pay much attention or give much thought on an ideal that no longer suited me. Up until the war, I lived to please my father. And now, after I realized just how lucky I am to remain alive and not prosecuted, I should live for only myself and what I think is right."
I was stunned by the revelation that Malfoy came to that resolution way earlier than I did. While I was confused and debating how I should handle Ron, he already made up his mind to stand his ground. All this time I failed to see his struggles and made him go through it by himself.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," I couldn't bring myself to look at him in the eye, "I'm sorry for not realizing it until Parkinson brought it up."
"Please, forget about Parkinson," He sneered, then his tone mellowed, "Don't be silly, you've continuously been there for me. Perhaps not in the ways you deem worthy, but trust me when I say, your presence is all I ask for."
"Who knew Malfoy can be this sweet?" I chuckled.
"I believe this when one says: 'you ruined this moment'," He smiled and pulled me closer, "Regardless, I'm still going to kiss you."
I jokingly rolled my eyes before his lips pressed against mine. As we danced, I could see Pansy Parkinson staring at us in my peripheral vision, with hatred, despair and disappointment in her eyes. I almost felt bad for her, almost.
I'd be lying if I didn't feel a sense of satisfaction.
After the song was over, we went back to sit our table, when Ginny approached us with Harry in tow.
"Isn't this great? I'm surprised by how many people showed up," She asked excitedly with her fingers crossed, then she glanced over Malfoy, "Well, I did wish more Slytherins would come, but some people just can't change."
"That is slander, Weasley," Malfoy rose his eyebrow, "I do not appreciate the way you speak of those from my house."
"The truth hurts, Malfoy," Ginny said sourly. She was fast to switch back to the previous cheerful tone before Malfoy could say anything else, "Anyway, I hope you are enjoying yourselves."
"Oh, how can we not?" Malfoy said sarcastically.
"I'll leave you be then," Ginny wasn't deterred and said with a smile, "Let's go, Harry."
Harry nodded at us politely before he followed Ginny back to where Ron and Lavender was. I looked to that direction and for a brief moment, Ron and I's eyes met. We were both quick to look away.
Valentine's day supposed to be celebratory, yet the atmosphere here was stiff. Surely there was dance and music, but the people here seemed dreadful as if they didn't come here for fun, they were only here because they believed they were acting upon a supposedly good cause.
I felt suffocated. I couldn't believe this was the environment I used to emerge myself in.
"This is boring and bureaucratic," Malfoy stretched. He then leaned forward and with a sly smirk, he said, "Would you like to go to a real party?"
Half-dubious and half-excited, I nodded.
Once again, we sneaked out to Hogsmeade in the middle of the night.
"We rented a room in Hog's head," Malfoy said as we walked toward to the inn, "No other students would go there on Valentine's day, so no one is going to interrupt us."
"Good idea," I said and got closer to him in hope to escape the cold.
"We are almost there," He held my hand and put it into his jacket pocket.
I was relieved by the warmth inside Hog's head. After hanging our coats on the coat rack, we were greeted by Aberforth Dumbledore.
"You two are late to the party, aren't you?" He stacked a glass cup on top of the others and wiped his hands on the apron before he pointed to a dingey corridor, "That way downstairs."
Malfoy nodded at him and I quietly said thank you.
"Don't break anything," Abeforth yelled behind us as we went down the narrow stairs.
I could already hear people talking and cheering with instrument playing in the background in a distance. Malfoy gave me a smug look before he knocked on a door. A few seconds later, a Slytherin whose name I couldn't recall poked his head through the gap of the door.
"Hey, Malfoy!" He said loudly, I could tell he was half drunk, "And you, you look familiar. Ah, don't tell me, let's see…"
"This is…"
"I know! It's Granger, Hermione Granger, the famous Gryffindor you've been seeing since last September," He said enthusiastically. The door swung and he welcomed us in with open arms.
"Everyone, hey, attention here," He put his elbow on Malfoy's shoulder despite the repulsed look Malfoy gave him, "You guys remember Malfoy and Granger, they finally showed up to the party."
There were cheers and raised glasses. Someone even blew a paper horn. The atmosphere here was different, it was lively and cheery, which I never expected to see among the Slytherins.
"You never come to hang out with us anymore, we Slytherins missed you," A dark hair girl came up to me with another one trailing behind her, "I'm Daphne, Daphne Greengrass, and this is my younger sister, Astoria, a fifth year. She's a fan of yours, both of you."
"Hi," Astoria said shyly while staring at the ground. She briefly looked up to glance over me, then Malfoy before back to staring at the ground again, "It's nice to meet you."
"What did I say about sneaking a child into an adult's party, Greengrass?" Malfoy curled his lips, pretended to be in dismay.
"You made that sound horribly wrong, Malfoy," Daphne rolled her eyes and Astoria blushed, "If I didn't bring this girl here, she'd volunteer to go to that abhorrent party those Gryffindors throw. No offense."
"None taken," I shrugged.
"There are plenty other times to make friends," Malfoy said as he grubbed two shot glasses filled with firewhiskey and handed one to me, "Take this, Hermione, then we are going to dance."
"Sounds good to me," I laughed and chugged down the drink with Malfoy after counting to three.
The Irish jig music started to play, Malfoy untied his tie and threw it onto the ground. For the second time tonight, he bowed his hand to me.
"Care for another dance?"
"Of course," I took his hand, "Show me again."
He laughed, pulled me into his arms and kissed me. Before I could say anything, he already dragged me to the center of the room. As the music went on, the people cheered and the glasses breaking, we danced like we've never danced before.
"I love you, Hermione Granger. You are all that I've ever wanted," He shouted as we were spinning, "Happy Valentine's day."
"I love you too, Draco Malfoy. You are the best," I shouted back with an ear-to-ear smile, "Happy Valentine's day."
I had never seen Malfoy this relaxed. It might be the alcohol, but I was thoroughly enjoying it.
This was the best Valentine's day ever.