Inverse

Chapter 16: Blurring the Lines

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Hermione was about to have a brain aneurysm.

She was presently sitting in the Knight Bus with Harry, nearly the entire Weasley family, and the advanced Auror squad of the Order, headed for Hogwarts for the new term.

It had nothing to do with the annoying fact that Ron kept tripping over his own feet each time the bus jerked, crashing into her, or the fact that everyone on the top deck was shooting wary glances at Harry. It didn't even have to do with the newfound knowledge of Neville's incapacitated parents, which was terribly tragic in itself, but could not come close to the reason why she was ready to shrivel up and die in a corner.

Memories of Christmas Eve came flooding back to her again. Hermione clutched her head and clamped her eyes shut; trying everything she could to forget what happened. To forget the way her body felt against his. And most definitely forget the feeling of his lips on hers.

No, no, no, no.

Hermione rocked back and forth in her seat, taking steadying breaths and focused on banishing the memory for life. It had been an accident. A cruel accident. After an eternity of being frozen in place, she had abruptly shoved herself off of him with mad apologies, and clamped her mouth in absolute horror.

He didn't say a word. His mouth was still slightly open, staring at her as if she had grown a second head. Her heart jammed in her throat as she dared to meet his gaze. He didn't even look angry, nor was he shouting obscenities at her, and that scared her more than anything.

After the rail had come to a full stop, she gave him a spluttered 'bye', and practically ran off the terminal, never looking back. How could she face him? How would she even pick up the conversation after that happened? Sure, if it had been Ron or Harry she would have apologized awkwardly but they would be able to pass it by like any other bump in the road.

But this was Draco Malfoy.

As accidental as it was, she couldn't just brush it off with a wave, hoping to get back to their previous topic. They were archenemies. Or at least, they once were. And she was sure he was still regarding her as 'something to be tolerated', not someone to have accidental kisses with, no matter how brief it was.

Hermione groaned quietly and leaned her head against her window. It was hopeless. He would probably kill her once she got to Hogwarts. She was sure everything she had built with him had been broken and he would now go enlist himself as Voldemort's follower. Dumbledore would no doubt be disappointed.

She didn't even remember getting off the Knight Bus or parting with the Aurors, but the next time Hermione was able to clear her head, she was standing in front of the oak gates with Harry, Ron, Ginny and the twins. Taking another breath, she grabbed her trunk and followed them inside the castle.

When the first day had gone by without any casualties, Hermione allowed herself a quiet sigh of relief. She had yet to encounter Draco in the corridors, and the new load of homework was putting her mind to work, distracting her from the impending doom that would happen on Thursday.

Harry had started Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape—much to his dismay, but the opportunity made her chest burn with envy. How useful would it be to not only block out invaders, and theoretically use the art to control her mind and her memories? She desperately felt in need of Occlumency at the moment. Deciding to try and teach herself later, she followed Harry and Ron to the Gryffindor Tower, dodging chattering the group of younger students with an irritated roll of her eyes.

The next morning, Hermione dropped her fork in her goblet of pumpkin juice while reading the Daily Prophet's newest headline:

MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN.