Written for The Houses Competition
House: Hufflepuff
Position: Stand-In Year 7
Category: Standard
Prompt: [Creature] or [Animal] Snail
Theme: Love Conquers All
Word count: 993
Beta: Magi Silverwolf
I stare blankly down at the small snail on the ground in front of my feet. The little guy has apparently been following me for the past week. Either that or I just happen to be repeatedly running into it by coincidence. Sighing, I bend down and scoop the snail up.
"Have you been following me?" I ask it, but only get a blank stare in return.
"Who are you talking to, Hermione?" Harry asks from behind me.
"Maybe she's finally going nutters," Ron jokes, grinning.
"Oh, shush, Ron, it's this snail that's been following me." I roll my eyes, turning around to show them the snail.
"How can a snail be following you? They are ridiculously slow," Ron ask.
"I don't know actually. I figured I would go ahead and keep it with me though.
"Actually, Granger, she's my snail. Mind if I have her back now?" Malfoy walks up to us, smirking. I feel my heart skip and my belly flutter. Yes, I'm completely in love with Draco Malfoy. I haven't told Harry or Ron yet.
"Oh, okay. Here." I hold my hand out and he gently removes the snail. Politely nodding in thanks, he walks away.
"He's such a bloody-"
"Ronald, be nice, at least he didn't start a fight. He just wanted his snail back." My voice is stern and Ron deflates.
"You're defending him?" Harry's eyes widen slightly, and I sigh.
"Come on, let's go to class."
Two days later the snail finds her way to me again. Giggling, I pick her up off the floor.
"You shouldn't escape so often or you will give Draco early gray hairs from worry." The little snail nods her head. Sighing slightly, I let her slide onto my shoulder, continuing to the library. I'll write Draco a letter later to inform him where she is.
Draco Malfoy,
Your little snail has found her way to me again. She is safe, so don't worry too much.
Granger
"You what?" I could see the shock and in Ron's eyes, the fire dancing along his profile. I had just recently given the letter to an owl to deliver.
"I sent Malfoy a letter to tell him I have his snail." Ron wrinkles his nose, but didn't say anything, Harry staring at the snail on my shoulder.
"Why do you have his snail again?" Harry asks.
"Well… I'm not sure, but she somehow ended up finding me again earlier," I began slowly, tasting the words before speaking them.
"How though? I mean, snails aren't that smart, are they?" Harry still gazes at the snail, eyes going wide, so I turned my head to look. To my own surprise, the snail seems to be glaring at Harry as much as she can as a snail
"I think she's glaring at you, mate. Maybe you should apologize?" Ron is grinning at Harry, trying not to laugh at his dilemma.
"I'm sorry, uhm, you're a very smart snail."
I laugh. "Us ladies are going to bed. See you bright and early."
I sit at the table that morning, the daily mail arriving. A flock of owls bursting into the Great Hall, and I watch as one gives Draco my letter. My heart skips as he reads it, folds it up, and then stands. His friends look at him in confusion. My heart stutters when he looks at me, speaking to Pansy in the process.
She looks shocked, then smirks as he walks away. I begin to panic, thinking, hoping he isn't going to come get his snail now, in front of everyone else. He heads straight for us, though, and I quickly school my features to hide my inner turmoil. He's a Slytherin and wouldn't want to be with me, so being in love with him is pointless. The Great Hall is silent, everyone watching, anticipating a fight between the Golden Boy and Slytherin Prince. I hope it doesn't come to that. Draco walks past Harry and stops beside me.
"Can I have her back now?" Draco tries to look irritated but his eyes are filled with exasperation. Hiding a smile, I let the snail make her way onto my hand and hold her out for Draco to take.
He does, saying a calm "thank you," and turns back to his table. As soon as he sits down, the Great Hall erupts in gossip. Both Harry and Ron look at me; I only shrug at their silent question.
However, the following night, she finds her way into the Gryffindor Tower. I stare down at her from my seat, Ron and Harry across from me.
"I'm in love with Draco," I blurt out, and the snail practically perks up at the words while Ron's head snaps over to look at me.
"Do you mind repeating that, 'Mione?" Ron asks Harry listening to the conversation.
"I'm in love with Draco," I say again, daring him to object.
"Okay," is all he says, looking to Harry who shrugs.
"As long as he isn't a git to you," Harry states. I grin, glad of their approval.
Draco is at our table again in the morning. I'm a little surprised, since I didn't tell him I had her once more but he shrugs. Everyone is watching, silent, and I hold her out to him. I wish she would stop coming to me. Even under such circumstances, he won't feel the same. I feel my gut clench, not noticing the silent conversation between Draco and the snail. I look at him, about to speak, when he bends down, swiftly capturing my lips with his own. I suck in a breath, before kissing back. It's just a simple press of our lips, but to me, it's everything. We part a moment later, cheers sounding around us.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Draco asks and I quickly reply yes, grinning.
Distantly, I hear Dean speak, "does this mean there's no more House rivalry between us and Slytherin?"