Draco Malfoy watched as Hermione Granger hurried across the busy corridor, arms laden with books, her robes swishing as she was jostled by the crowd of students trying to get to class. Her bushy hair bounced as she walked. It looked slightly tamer than usual, mused Malfoy. Softer, sort of silky looking. What would it would feel like if he reached out and ran his fingers through it...?
"You watching that Granger girl again, Malfoy?' Blaise Zambini's voice cut sharply through Malfoy's thoughts.
"No! Of course not! As if I'd pay any attention to a know-it-all mudblood like her!" Malfoy protested forcefully.
"Sure looked like you were watching her to me" Blaise looked skeptical. Crabbe and Goyle were giving him odd looks too. Damn, they must have noticed him watching Granger. Malfoy drew himself up to full height and gave an imperious smirk.
"I was just thinking of new ways to torment Potter's know-it-all sidekick, teach her a lesson."
Blaise looked interested. "Yeah? How's that?" he asked.
"Like this," Malfoy replied with another smirk, sticking his foot out as Hermione bustled past him.
She tripped. Her books slid from her arms and scattered across the hallway.
"You did that on purpose!" she shouted.
"Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it then, mudblood?" He taunted
He glared at her, challengingly.
She met his gaze, glaring back at his stormy grey eyes. Eyes you could get lost in, she thought, then shook her head. She shouldn't be thinking that. Not about her worst enemy.
"Drop dead Malfoy!" she snapped.
He put his hand over his heart in mock horror. "Why Granger, you wound me with your words" he smirked. Behind him, Crabbe and Goyle were snickering derisively.
"You're so immature Malfoy! Even Ron's more of a gentleman than you!" she yelled angrily.
"What? That impoverished oaf?" He yelled back, incredously. That comment stung, being compared to a Weasley. Didn't she know who she was talking to?
"He's not an oaf, he's my friend!" She shouted at him, "And he's worth ten of you Malfoy!"
"What?! Weasley could never be…hey! Don't you walk away from me, Granger!" Malfoy swore, she'd disappeared into the crowd. "Stupid Mudblood," he said angrily to Blaise, "Walking away from me! Me! Doesn't she know who I am?"
Blaise sighed. It seemed Malfoy was always preoccupied with Granger these days. "Merlin knows why", he thought, "It's not like the opinion of one lowly mudblood should make any difference"
"And what did she mean by saying I'm not a gentleman," Malfoy continued to rant, "I can be a gentleman if I want!"
Blaise looked sceptically at him. "I think it might have had something to do with your tripping her over and kicking her books" he said.
Malfoy turned around, grabbing Blaise by the shoulder, "Are you saying she's right?" he demanded.
"No, course not," Blaise backtracked quickly, "Just saying it'd be a bit hard to convince her you're a gentleman, that's all."
"I could convince her I'm a gentleman if I wanted to!" protested Malfoy.
"Yeah?" Blaise looked doubtful, "Fine it's a bet; 5 galleons she won't say you're a gentleman."
"10 galleons and you're on!" Malfoy smirked, "I'll have the mudblood eating out of my hand in no time. No girl can resist the Malfoy charms."
And with that, Malfoy stormed off. He'd show Granger he could be a gentleman when he wanted to…