Draco sat in the Slytherin common room, lost in thought. Hermione had punched him in the face today. They'd been waiting for the executioner to put down that stupid pet of Hagrid's. He reached up and touched his jaw. How dare that filthy mudblood even touch him. He smiled, remembering the look in her eyes. She was so passionate when it came to loathing him. He had been rather nasty to her. He secretly enjoyed watching her sometimes. Though, he would never admit that to anyone. It would never work out anyway. She was friends with that Potter boy. A grin crept across his face. If only they knew what he was about to become. Soon he would be initiated and he, Draco Malfoy, would be a deatheater.
Hermione was walking back to the infirmary to see Ron when Draco walked up behind her. "Turn around and look at me, mudblood." He said spitefully. Hermione turned around, enraged. She drew her wand and aimed it level with Draco's face. Draco grinned at her. "What are you going to do, Granger? Are you going to use an unforgivable curse on me? Go ahead. Do your worst." He said, laughing. Hermione lowered her wand. "What do you want, Malfoy?" She asked, sneering. She punctuated every word. Draco stepped forward, noticing her flowery scent. He breathed it in. "What were you doing down by Hagrid's house earlier? Up to no good I suspect." He grinned at her. Hermione looked at the floor. "We, umm, we wanted to be there for Hagrid. He would have been distraught." Draco stepped closer, backing Hermione towards the wall. "What do you mean, 'would have been'? What were you doing?" He looked down at her. She glared at him. "Back up, Malfoy!" She yelled at him. "You wouldn't know anything about being a good friend. You're just a no-good, spoiled, heartless pile of rubbish! I hate you. Don't speak to me or I'll be the one who makes you eat slugs." Draco stood there for a minute, stunned by Hermione's sudden outburst. He smiled at Hermione, admiring her fierceness. It was actually kind of hot. Hermione sneered at him in disgust. See, now that bothered him. He didn't want the mudblood to hate him. Confused he pushed her against the wall, there they stood… nose to nose. Her hot breath tingled on his lips. She pushed him away. "What the bloody hell are you doing, Malfoy?" She shouted at him. "Don't you ever touch me." She pushed past him and continued to the infirmary. Draco stood there staring at the wall. He had actually thought about kissing her. The worst thing was, the thought actually seemed appealing to him.
Hermione sat beside Ron's bed, waiting for him to wake up. He had finally stopped throwing up slugs and he looked a lot better. Hermione laughed out loud remembering how green Ron had been. It wasn't really funny while it was happening, but now that it was over the amusement was bubbling up in her. Ron rolled over and smiled. "You're still here?" He asked. Hermione stopped laughing and leaned back in the chair. "I left and came back. Feeling any better?" She asked. Ron smiled and propped himself up on his elbow. "Loads. I never want to see a slug again." Hermione laughed. She sat next to Ron on the bed. "Speaking of slugs, Malfoy was acting weird earlier. Asking a lot of questions. He called me that name again, and then he pushed me." Ron sat up. "The bastard!" He said, " I'll kill him myself." Hermione playfully pushed him back down. She laughed. "Calm down, Ron. He'll get what's coming to him. Besides, you need another wand. There's no telling what you'll do to yourself." There was a silence in the room. "Thank you, Ron." Hermione whispered. Ron met her gaze. She put her hand on his. "You stuck up for me. It means a lot to me knowing that someone's got my back." Ron smiled at her, "I would say I'd do it over, but I don't want to eat slugs again." Hermione laughed. She noticed a stray hair on Ron's forehead. She reached up and brushed it away. Her hand lingered on his face. "Ron…" She started to say. A rude cough interrupted her. She turned around. "Oh, Draco. Didn't hear you come in." Hermione stood up. Draco stepped closer. "I'll just bet you didn't. Professor McGonagall is looking for you." He glared at Ron and stormed out of the room. Ron looked at the door, then at Hermione. "What's gotten into him?" He asked. Hermione shrugged. "I have no idea."
Draco stormed into his room. What was Hermione doing, touching that useless little git? He deserved to eat slugs for daring to curse a Malfoy. He ripped off his vest and threw it at the dresser, knocking a goblet from the top. It clanged as it hit the floor. There was a knock at the door. "What?" Draco yelled. The door slowly opened and Goyle stepped in. "I heard something, I was checking to see if you were ok." Draco glared at him and lowered his voice to a hiss. "Of course I'm ok, why wouldn't I be? I'm fine. Just peachy." Goyle apologized and backed out of the room. The door shut and Draco took off his shirt. He threw it at the wall. He would make Hermione pay attention to him. No one could say no to him when he put his mind to it. Not even Hermione.