A/N – Hi everyone. I haven't written a fanfic in ages! This was just something to stop me being bored really so it's probably not that good. I might take it further, I might not. Let me know what you think in a review!!
Summary – It's Seventh Year at Hogwarts and Draco has been acting strangely around Hermione, but are his feelings towards her genuine, or is it just lust? Meanwhile, Harry has been acting very suspiciously around the editor of the newly established school newspaper and with a little help from Luna, Hermione is determined to get to the bottom of it...
Warnings – Strong language
Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter. At all. Unfortunately.
What's your problem, Malfoy?
Hermione trod hastily down the Charms corridor with a heavy stack of books in her arms. Classes had finished ten minutes ago and she was on her way back to Gryffindor Tower to finish the homework she started yesterday evening. It was raining outside and sheets of it lashed against the windows, rattling the panes and beating against the masonry.
Hermione liked doing homework, but she liked doing homework even more when it rained. It was comforting, ensconced inside the Common Room, sitting cosily beside the roaring fireplace while the wind howled outside and she was looking forward to an uninterrupted evening of doing just that while Harry and Ron got themselves soaked on the Quidditch Pitch.
Her head full of complicated rune translations and lists of dates of goblin rebellions, Hermione turned the corner, caught her shoe on a slightly raised floorboard, tripped and fell painfully onto her side. Her books and stacks of notes cascaded out of her arms and slid across the floor.
Wincing at the throbbing pain in her hip, she put her hand on the floor and went to push herself upwards, just as she heard a cackle of laughter coming from a few feet behind her.
"Need a hand, Granger?" said Draco Malfoy while the knot of Slytherin girls beside him giggled automatically.
"No" said Hermione, blushing and attempting to stand up, but her foot got caught in the strap of her bag and she stumbled comically. The Slytherin girls roared with laughter but Malfoy didn't.
"Here, let me help" he said bending down to retrieve the book Hermione was reaching for but instead of picking it up he kicked it further from her reach.
"Bastard" Hermione muttered, collecting her books and standing up and thankfully, succeeding this time
Draco smirked "What was that, Granger? I didn't quite catch it –"
Hermione gave him a withering look and turned to walk away, hoisting her bag further up her shoulder as she did so. Draco watched her until she vanished up the staircase and the girls surrounding him gave each other quizzical looks "come on" he told them and they followed obediently like a pack of over groomed show dogs.
"What happened to you?" said Ron the next morning at breakfast. There was a bruise on Hermione's wrist where she had stuck out her hand to break her fall yesterday
"I fell over" she said "in the Charms corridor. There's a loose floorboard. If Filch spent more time on the upkeep of the castle rather than chasing down petty troublemakers..." she broke off as the caretaker stomped past their table towards the doors, wheezing and grumbling.
A chorus of giggles and deep voices interrupted the buzz of chatter and clatter of cutlery in the Great Hall. Draco and his entourage had arrived. The boys were laughing at an apparently deeply amusing joke Draco had just told while the girls batted their false eyelashes.
"Honestly" said Hermione, watching the group settle noisily down at the Slytherin Table "what is the attraction?"
"That is obvious" said Ginny, reaching for a crumpet "he's all misunderstood and tragic now, isn't he? After what happened before the battle, after helping Harry and all that. Half the girls in this school would give their wands just to have the great Slytherin War Hero talk to them. All he has to do is walk past and they swoon. Fair enough he's a wanker, but since when did that matter to Hogwarts Society of Dumb Bimbos?" Ginny raised her eyebrows at a pair of attractive Ravenclaw girls who were eyeing Draco interestedly over their cereal "and, although I know you'd rather eat dragon dung that admit it Hermione, he's never been exactly ugly"
"Don't let Harry hear you say that" warned Hermione
"He's always had girls fawning over him" Ginny continued, waving to Luna who had just wandered into the hall "but now he's got more than just good looks to help him with the ladies. And admittedly, he did help us a lot last year. He saved all our lives, yours and Dumbledore's included"
Hermione looked up to the staff table where Professor Dumbledore was talking quietly with Professor McGonagall. The war had been hard on the Headmaster. He had been using a walking stick since the battle took place but Madam Pomfrey and a team of specialist Healers had assured him and the school that it wasn't a lasting injury, but still he looked older than ever.
Draco had turned spy for the Order half way through the war and consequently, had managed to tell the Order what the Death Eaters had planned for the battle. Without Draco's warning, quick thinking and bravery, Hermione had no doubt that Voldemort would have won and Harry would never have had the chance to defeat him. The reason why Draco joined the Order however, was debatable.
"He did it to save his own skin" said Hermione dismissively "he knew Voldemort was going to kill him eventually for his parent's mistakes, once he'd played his part in the war. He saved our lives because he knew that if Voldemort won, he was a dead man"
"Whatever" said Ginny who had evidently grown tired of the conversation and was now watching Harry who had stopped at the doors to the Great Hall to speak with a Ravenclaw girl whose name Hermione did not know.
"Speaking of Draco being popular..." said Hermione airily
"It was expected" said Ginny snappishly and she stood up and strode over to the doors. Hermione grinned when she saw Ginny coil an arm around Harry's waist and glare at the Ravenclaw girl who looked sullen and stalked away.
Hermione finished her toast and unfurled the Daily Prophet, aware that she was being watched. Her eyes left the paper and travelled over to the Slytherin Table. Draco held her gaze for several seconds before looking away. Hermione shook the paper irritably and did not look back at the Slytherin Table again.
Hermione found herself becoming rather suspicious as the week progressed. Draco Malfoy was appearing near to her more often than could be assumed as accidental. He would stroll past her in the hallways and shoot her curious glances that could be described as flirtatious but Hermione surmised were more likely to be mocking. He would catch her eye in class, watch her eat in the Great Hall and often be in the library when she was, accompanied as always by his horde of admirers. Either he was doing this to annoy her, or had some sort of malicious practical joke in mind and Hermione became very wary of him and did her best to avoid him.
On Wednesday afternoon, Hermione was alone in the library researching Carnivorous Shrubs for a Herbology assignment and feeling exceedingly harassed by the amount of N.E.W.T revision she had to do. The quiet corner she had chosen to study in was hidden from the rest of the library by a tall and dusty shelf devoted to Care of Magical Creatures text books and located right at the back of the room – it was her favourite place and she was rarely disturbed there. Half an hour into her work however, she was distracted by a scuffling sound coming from the other side of the shelves accompanied by giggling. Frowning, Hermione laid down her quill and peered around the shelf to investigate. Draco Malfoy and a slim blonde girl were kissing enthusiastically. Draco had the girl pinned to the bookshelf and Hermione, furious, strode out of her hiding place and said
"Fornicating in the library, Malfoy? I'll be telling your head of house about this"
The pair broke apart and the girl laughed at Hermione and pulled Draco's head back towards her but he pushed her hand away "fuck off Granger" he said
"No" said Hermione. Draco stared back at her and looked her up and down searchingly, from her black knee socks and skirt, to the white shirt she wore with the Head Girl badge pinned to the lapel. His eyes rested on her chest for a moment and the girl looked mutinous while Hermione, feeling rather violated, went bright red, secured her top button and said "what the fuck do you think you're doing?"
He continued to look at her thoughtfully for a moment and then, as though he had come to a sudden decision, turned to his female companion and said coldly "get lost Jo"
The girl stared at him disbelievingly "You're an arrogant manwhore Malfoy" she said, pushing him away from her "and my name isn't Jo, it's Carla"
"Like I care?" said Draco and the girl, looking positively livid, strode down the aisle of bookshelves and disappeared from view "dirt" he muttered after she'd gone. Hermione pressed her lips together
angrily and folded her arms instinctively around her chest as Draco turned his attention back to her once more.
"What did you do that up for?" he said, nodding toward her shirt button "I was rather enjoying the view"
"You're unbelievable" said Hermione, disgusted "you're a lecherous little prick"
"That hurt" said Draco, unconcerned. He sat down on the nearest chair, leaned back and studied Hermione as though she were a particularly interesting piece of artwork
"What's going on Malfoy?" said Hermione "you've been following me around for a week now, watching me –"
"You're interesting to watch" Draco replied simply
Hermione laughed mirthlessly "go back to your girlfriend's Malfoy and leave me alone"
"And if I don't leave you alone?"
Hermione considered him for a moment "if you keep following me I swear I will hex you in very sensitive place. And trust me, when I've finished you will no longer be able to use that particular piece of equipment which may at least stop me and the Prefects finding you and your various sluts in empty classrooms all over the school"
"Touché" said Draco, raising an eyebrow. Hermione went back to her table to collect her things, unable to remain in the library any longer because she was running the risk of carrying out her threat there and then. Draco, to her severe irritation, followed her
"Are you going to report me then?" he asked in a tone that suggested he thought this very unlikely
"If you value your manhood, Draco you will piss off and leave me alone" said Hermione, throwing books into her bag
"You can't hide from me forever, Hermione" Draco called after her as she made for the door. Hermione paused with one hand on the door knob, momentarily disarmed by this comment but the next second she had wrenched it open and was making her way as fast as she could away from him.
Hermione, stunned and admittedly rather confused by what had just occurred, walked quickly through the Transfiguration corridor but came to an abrupt halt a little way before the entrance to another corridor. She could hear low voices, punctuated by a shrill laugh. She knew this corridor, hidden behind a tapestry, was a favourite haunt of couples who wished to have some privacy between classes and already fed up with finding Draco and his numerous girlfriends snogging in here, Hermione ripped the tapestry aside, ready to reprimand whoever it was but stopped, mouth half open when she saw exactly who it was concealed there.
Harry and the Ravenclaw girl were standing, very close together. The girl's hand was upon Harry's arm and she snatched it away very quickly and her cheeks coloured at once "well Harry" she said in a
businesslike way "I should be able to work around that...what about next week, we can finish the interview in the library?"
"Hermione" said Harry, his face unreadable "I thought you had the day off today? Malfoy's meant to be doing the rounds, isn't he?"
"Don't talk to me about him" said Hermione "what are you doing?" she added, looking suspiciously at the girl who was holding a clipboard and grinning at her
"You must be Hermione" said the girl confidently "Harry's told me loads about you, how you fended off five Death Eater's at once during the battle...very impressive!"
Hermione said nothing and the girl's grin faltered but she recovered it almost instantly "my name is Melody, Melody Colton" she held out her hand and Hermione took it, shooting Harry a questioning glance as she did so
"Melody has been given permission by Dumbledore to start a school newspaper" Harry explained "she's been conducting interviews with the Quidditch teams for the School Activities section. We were just discussing the article"
"I'm hoping to get work experience at the Daily Prophet when we've finished seventh year" said Melody proudly "I'm very serious about this school paper, I just know it's going to be popular and Harry's been giving me an interview, as he's captain of the Gryffindor Team, you know" she gave Harry a radiant smile which Hermione did not like
"I see. This is rather funny place for an interview don't you think, Harry? I mean, wouldn't the library be more convenient? I'm sure I could arrange a place in there for the school paper to meet. I'll ask Madam Pince next time I'm there if you want" said Hermione
"Oh, well thanks" said Melody, still grinning in a very annoying fashion and showing a set of very white teeth "but Professor Flitwick is sorting out an old classroom for the newspaper committee to work in. I do appreciate the offer though, Hermione" she added sweetly
"Who is on this committee?" said Hermione tautly, looking at Harry with her eyebrows contracted. He seemed to be avoiding her gaze
"Well me of course" said Melody with an irritating little laugh "and Harry too. It's very good of him to offer to help, don't you think? What with all the Quidditch practices he has and all the N.E.W.T revision we've got"
"So just you and Harry then?" Hermione went on
"Oh, no...we have plenty more members. Zacharias Smith and Hannah Abbot and Padma and Parvati and Lavender –"
"Well I would be interested in joining" said Hermione rather stiffly "I am very supportive of school societies and extracurricular activities. And if you are looking for someone with journalism experience, may I suggest you speak to Luna Lovegood whose father is a journalist and editor of the Quibbler? I'm sure she would be an asset to the team"
Melody looked a little uncomfortable "well Hermione, I'm afraid all the positions have been filled. Of course, it is most regretful that you can't join but if a position opens up I will let you know, or I'm sure Harry will"
"Right" said Hermione while Melody smiled at her "well keep me updated with the developments, won't you Harry?" and casting him a very suspicious look, she swept past them wondering what exactly all that was about and what on earth was going on.
"What do you know about Melody Colton?" said Hermione. She was sitting at the bar of the Three Broomsticks with Luna who was stirring her Gillywater very slowly with a cocktail stick and gazing dreamily around the pub
"She has just started a school newspaper" said Luna, turning her huge, glassy blue eyes toward Hermione "and she's involved in all sorts of school societies. I went to the Gobstones Club last year and she was there. I didn't go much, it was quite boring and I am not very good at Gobstones anyway"
"Yes," said Hermione a little impatiently "but what is she like? What do you know about her?"
"I don't speak to her much" said Luna "I asked her if she wanted me to help her with the paper and I offered to write a very informative article about Wrackspurts, there really should be more awareness about them you know, I was saying to daddy during the summer –"
"But she wouldn't let you join?" interrupted Hermione, knowing that if she let Luna get into full flow about Wrackspurts there would be no stopping her
"No, she told me all positions had been filled. I was quite disappointed actually" said Luna. She took a dignified sip of Gillywater and added "Harry likes her though. He is on the committee, on the School Activities team. She asked him for his help first. You do know he is working with her?"
"Yeah" said Hermione "I know. What do you reckon about that?"
"Well I am sure Harry will be very good on the paper" said Luna, missing the point entirely "he knows quite a bit about Quidditch, doesn't he?"
"Is this seat taken girls?"
Hermione barely suppressed a groan. Draco Malfoy had sauntered over to the bar and taken the seat next to Hermione and to her surprise, his usual gaggle of chattering, swooning girls was absent.
"No" said Luna before Hermione could answer "you're Draco Malfoy" she said, her eyes widening "you helped to defeat the Death Eaters and Voldemort. That was very brave of you"
Draco ignored her and Hermione's fury with him doubled "what did I tell you on Wednesday, Malfoy?" she said through gritted teeth
"Something about my manhood" said Draco idly with a suggestive grin
"Eugh" said Hermione, downing the rest of her Butterbeer. Luna giggled.
"Fancy a walk, Granger?" said Draco
"No" said Hermione tonelessly. Luna left her seat and wandered off over to a table where Neville was sitting with Dean and Seamus. Hermione wished she hadn't.
"What are you doing in Hogsmeade anyway?" said Draco "I thought you'd be holed up in Gryffindor Tower, working yourself into a frenzy over N.E.W.T revision"
"Like it's any of your business" said Hermione. There was a pause during which Hermione overheard Luna enthusing to Neville about Wrackspurts and the various effects they had upon their unwary victims.
"What the fuck is a Wrackspurt?" said Draco, looking at Luna confusedly. Hermione laughed and at the same time wondered why she was still sitting there next to Draco Malfoy.
"Potter and the Weasel not with you?" said Draco when Hermione remained resolutely silent
"Quidditch" said Hermione "the match against Slytherin is drawing close as you know" she fixed Draco with a stare "and I hope we thrash you" it was Draco's turn to laugh now
"I don't think so" he said "in case you've forgotten, Slytherin have got me as a Seeker, so it'll be us thrashing you I'm afraid"
"In your dreams, Malfoy" said Hermione
Draco smirked at her with his head cocked to one side "there have been quite a few things in my dreams recently, Granger" he said slowly "and winning the upcoming match hasn't been one of them"
Hermione laughed nervously through her nose, thinking desperately for a retort but none came to her. Her brain was fogged. Draco nudged her shoulder with his own and said "see you around, Granger" and left the pub. Through the window, Hermione saw him instantly converged upon by a throng of girls and felt a stab of bitterness that had nothing to do with Draco annoying her.
"Luna" she said, throwing a few Sickles onto the bar and heading towards Neville's table "I need you to do me a favour"
"I can't submit this" said Luna, running her eyes over the parchment Hermione handed her
"What's wrong with it?"
"A lot of things" said Luna vaguely "it's just not interesting. I think Melody would prefer the Wrackspurt article myself. If she read that –"
"Luna...I don't think the school newspaper is quite er, ready for Wrackspurt's yet" said Hermione with a trace of barely concealed exasperation
"You wouldn't be saying that if one had flown in through your ears" said Luna tetchily "but fine"
"Okay, just keep an eye on her alright?" said Hermione as the bell rang for first lesson "and tell me if...you know, if you see or hear anything suspicious. And don't tell Harry" she added quietly "and definitely don't mention any of this to Ginny"
Luna nodded and floated out of the Great Hall with Hermione's newspaper article clutched in her hand. As Hermione walked past the Ravenclaw Table, she saw Harry walking ahead of her. Melody grasped his sleeve, beamed at him and the pair fell into conversation. Ginny was fingering her wand nearby.
"Ginny?" said Hermione, hurrying up to her
"Hello Hermione" she said stiffly
"What are you doing? Classes are going to start –"
"I'm deciding on the best angle to use to cast the Bat Bogey Hex on Melody Colton" said Ginny and Hermione took hold of her wrist and lowered it because McGonagall was watching her closely from the staff table.
Harry, disengaging himself from Melody, came over and put an arm around Ginny's shoulders before giving her a kiss on the cheek "everything alright, Hermione?" he said. Ginny put a protective arm around Harry's middle and stared at Melody, but the latter had looked away a while ago.
"Yes, fine" said Hermione "how's the paper coming along?"
"We should have our first edition out soon" said Harry enthusiastically "should be quite good"
"Then you and Colton won't need to see each other anymore, will you?" said Ginny lightly
"Ginny," said Harry "we've already –"
"Will you?" said Ginny dangerously and Harry shrank back a little
"Well" he began in a measured voice "there will be more issues to do in the future so –"
"I'm going to Charms" said Ginny and walked purposefully out of the Great Hall.
"Is it worth it?" said Hermione as she and Harry followed, on their way to Transfiguration
"Is what worth it?" said Harry distractedly. His eyes were on Ginny's back
"Is being on this stupid school paper worth compromising your relationship with Ginny?" said Hermione
"Not you as well!" said Harry
"She fancies you" said Hermione plainly "and she wants you –"
"I'm quite capable of handling my relationship with Ginny, Hermione" said Harry "I thought you'd approve of me being on the school paper anyway? McGonagall told me extracurricular activities look good on school records and CV's and if I want to be an Auror –"
"Then join the Transfiguration Club, or the Seventh Year Study Soceity" said Hermione "because I'm sure you don't need experience of journalism to be an Auror, Harry"
Draco was leaning against the banister of the marble staircase in front of them, watching this exchange with the trademark smirk in place. Hermione scowled at him
"Potter" said Draco as they passed
"Malfoy" said Harry "I'm going to the Common Room to get my revision Hermione. Coming?"
"You'll be late for class" warned Hermione "you should have got it before breakfast"
Harry shrugged and jogged up the stairs, leaving Hermione to make her way to lesson alone. Draco fell into step beside her "trouble with the Golden Trio?" he said "Potter didn't seem too pleased with you"
"Firstly" said Hermione, coming to a halt "it's none of your business. Secondly, I'm going to be late for class so please piss off. Thirdly, you're a prick" she quickened her pace up the staircase but Draco quickly caught up with her as she reached the corridor above. She made to turn left towards the next set of stairs but Draco caught her roughly around the waist and pulled her to the right, past the tapestry and into the abandoned corridor where she had found Harry and Melody.
"What are you playing at?" Hermione hissed "get off me!" but Draco held her fast "I'll scream" she said
"Will you?" said Draco. He pushed her lightly against the wall. Hermione, having had quite enough of Draco's games, pulled out her wand and pointed it at his crotch
"Seriously" she said "get the fuck off me"
"What are you afraid of, Granger?" said Draco quietly, his hot breath upon her ear, She shivered and Draco smiled
"I am not one of your conquests, Draco" said Hermione, her wand still clutched in her hand "I am not one of those girls who follow you and fawn over you and want nothing more than to bed you. I have no interest in you whatsoever"
"Exactly " said Draco enigmatically. He skimmed a hand across her hip, across her stomach and whispered "I will have you, Granger"
There was a bang and a yell and Draco was thrown from Hermione and back against the opposite wall "what is your problem, Malfoy?" Hermione said, incensed, tucking her wand into the hem of her skirt
"My problem" said Draco, apparently unfazed by her obvious anger "is that I can have any girl I want in this school, anyone. Except you. I find you," he cast around for the right word "alluring"
Hermione was shaking with rage. Advancing upon Draco she came so close to him that her chest was touching his and this time it was him who shivered "you may have saved my life, Draco" she hissed "but that doesn't mean anything has changed. You will never, ever have me"
Flashes of the battle soared across Hermione's mind as she ran. Running where, she had no idea but she was not going to class, she couldn't, not in this state, not with her mind in turmoil like this
She was lying on the grass. It was damp, not with dew or rain, but with blood – her blood. Sectumsempra, she decided, was what she had just been hit with and a gaping wound was gouged into her stomach, another on her thigh. Her breath was coming in shallow, desperate gasps and each one sounded like a death rattle. Nobody had noticed her in the confusion – Harry and Ron were perhaps frantic with worry as to where she had disappeared to. Footfalls pounded the ground around her and the combatants that passed possibly thought she was already dead – she must look dead, with all that blood and her eyes half closed. She could not move, but the pain was receding a little. Barely conscious, she listened to the sounds around her, trying in vain to make out a familiar voice but the noise, the voices around her were strangely deadened and she could not make them out properly, they sounded far away and in that moment, Hermione knew she was going to die there, alone and wounded, covered in blood and dirt. At least she had tried; at least she had fought bravely...
"Granger?" a voice, a familiar, upper class voice spoke into her ear "Granger, come on get up you stupid cow...come on!"
His hands were on her face, wiping away the blood and the tears, pulling back her eyelids. His face was blurred and distorted but she saw white blonde hair, grey eyes and pale skin splattered with blood before her eyelids drooped again "if you die, Granger...for fucks sake...HERMIONE!"
He swore again and his hands found her neck, felt her weakened pulse and then his arms were around her and she was lifted away from the blood soaked grass. They were running now and curses shot past them, the heat of the spells burning Hermione's face as they missed by millimetres. Draco was shooting spells from his own wand and his adversaries fell to the ground before them.
They were in the castle, Draco was hurtling up the crumbling marble stairs, along hallways and corridors and into an empty classroom where he laid Hermione down on a table, tore off his robe and tried to staunch the bleeding coming from her wounds while muttering some sort of healing spell, his wand drawn. She was floating somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness, her breathing shallow "Draco" she murmured in a whisper so quiet that even she barely heard it and then, the world disappeared into darkness.
"Why did you miss Transfiguration?" asked Ron at dinner that evening. He was looking curiously at her tear stained face
"I didn't feel well" she said "headache"
"and this headache of yours made you cry, did it?" said Ron, raising an eyebrow
"It's all the revision, getting on top of me... it's fine, I'm fine. Honestly, Ron"
Luna sidled up to their table and squashed herself in-between them "hello Ronald" she said
"Hi Luna. How are the Wrackspurts?"
"What's up, Luna?" asked Hermione
"Oh, I just thought you'd like to know that Melody allowed me onto the school paper committee" said Luna, pouring herself a cup of pumpkin juice 'she really liked the article"
"Great" said Hermione "why don't you tell me the rest on the way to History of Magic?"
"But I don't have History of Magic now" said Luna, very unhelpfully
"Yes, well..."said Hermione trailing off and dragging Luna towards the Entrance Hall "so what have you found out?"
"Harry is there quite often" said Luna "and he stays behind a lot after meetings with her to tidy up. You know, I've spoken to Melody about the Wrackspurt article and –"
"Stays behind?" repeated Hermione "what, just her and him?"
"Yes" said Luna "just her and him. She seems to like him rather a lot but I know Harry is going out with Ginny so she really doesn't have a chance"
"And does Harry seem to like her?" pressed Hermione
"Oh, yes I suppose. They spend quite a lot of time together"
"Right, thanks Luna. You'd better get going the bell rang two minutes ago" said Hermione and she headed for History of Magic where the corridors were thankfully, Draco free.
"The 1892 Goblin Rebellion continued for the next twenty years, until Ugnook the Unwary called for a truce..." Professor Binns droned on in his monotone voice while Hermione feverishly took notes and the rest of the class yawned sleepily. That was until the classroom door creaked open and each head turned to see who had entered "...the next century saw many historical happenings in the wizarding community which are worth noting and if you proceed to turn to page eighty four, you will see that –" continued Professor Binns, completely unaware that Draco Malfoy had just strode in between the desks. Hermione followed his progress, absolutely fuming.
"Professor?" he said and the ghost teacher paused. Ron and Harry looked curiously from Hermione, to Draco to Professor Binns and back again.
"What is it Mr. Miller?" he said
"Professor McGonagall would like to see Miss Granger in her office, sir" said Draco politely
"Very well, Mr Miller" said Binns distractedly "Miss Ginger, you are excused. Now, as I was saying before our interruption, if you turn to page eighty four and look at paragraph 7b..."
"I take it you were lying about McGonagall wanting to speak to me?" said Hermione, closing the door behind her and folding her arms "I knew you were a selfish prat, Malfoy but even I didn't think you'd stoop so low as to lie to a teacher and take me out of class. What do you keep playing pointless games with me for, Draco?"
"Come for that walk now?" he said
"No way!" said Hermione "please, Draco" she said, lowering her voice "just leave me alone" her eyes began to sting and she wasn't entirely sure why
"We need to talk" said Draco, almost beseechingly "please?"
"And this couldn't wait for class to finish?" said Hermione, turning her head away so Draco would not see her watery eyes
"No" he said. He lifted his hand and put a finger under her chin so she would face him again "just give me five minutes. You can go back to class afterwards and I won't bother you anymore. I just..." he swallowed, apparently gathering his thoughts "I just need to speak with you"
Hermione looked into his eyes and to her surprise, saw nothing but sincerity there. His expression was not smug or defiant or playful or mocking as it usually was, but soft and genuine. Hermione had only seen that expression on Draco's face once before and that was after he had saved her life and it was this, rather than anything else that made her go with him "five minutes" she said "you have five minutes"
Draco smiled "come on" he lead her downstairs and into the Entrance Hall
"Where are we going?" she asked
"Somewhere quiet" he replied. They went outside, down the stone steps, past the greenhouses and Hagrid's cabin and it was not until they had reached a secluded area of the lakeside and Hermione was about to say she hadn't the time for this and turn and go back, that Draco came to a halt. He sat down in the shade of a large oak and pulled Hermione down next to him.
"Well?" she said "let's hear it". His knee was touching hers, but for some reason, Hermione did not move away.
"We've never talked about what happened last year" said Draco, refusing to look at her "and you've never even said thank you"
"Why now?" said Hermione tremulously "what do you want with me, Draco? What do you want?"
He didn't answer, just stared at his lap with an angry expression on his face so Hermione continued "you want to know why I haven't sought you out to talk about it?" she said "because I don't want to remember, I don't want to talk about it. And you...you following me, stalking me, trying to get inside my head brings it all back and I don't want that, I don't want you!" her breathing was heavy, laboured as though she had just ran to that space by the lake rather than walked
"You're still standing here because of me!" Draco shouted, his head snapping up to look at her properly "I could have let you die there, Granger but I risked my own life to save yours! You can't ignore that!"
Hermione could not believe what she was hearing "you think I owe you something now?" she said in a quiet and deadly voice "I owe you nothing, Malfoy, nothing"
"Listen to me" he said, taking hold of both her arms and holding onto them tightly "those girls, all of them they're all sluts –"
"Tell me something I don't know" said Hermione
"- I don't care about them –"
"I know that too"
"I couldn't give a damn about any of them and alright, I didn't think I gave a damn about you either, I didn't think I gave a shit whether you lived past that battle but then...then I saw you...there"
Hermione looked at him and blinked. A tear fell down her cheek
"And I don't know, I couldn't leave you, I couldn't walk past. When I saw you, I thought you were already dead and I wanted to walk away, trust me right then I wanted to walk away but it was impossible and then, then I saw you were alive but you were dying, and you would have died if I hadn't carried you to that classroom" he hesitated and Hermione's hand seemed to automatically reach out and rest upon the back of Draco's own. He held it still "you don't go through something like that together and not have feelings" he finished "you just don't"
Hermione gave him a watery smile. It was almost regretful "you don't care for me, Draco. You saved my life because you're a good person and I really believe that, but you don't care for me. You think you do, you think you do because everything is still so raw but in time, you'll see that it's just lust, Draco. You said yourself you can have any girl you want in this school and you want me because you can't have me and you are the type of person who always wants what they can't have, always wants more than they've already got" she moved her hand away and placed it on her lap "you can't have me, because I don't love you. I thought maybe I would, right afterwards when we were in St Mungo's, I thought I might have feelings but I was wrong. I'm so sorry" she stood up, tears falling thickly onto her shirt and ran towards the castle. Coming to a stop several feet away, she said "thank you for saving my life, Draco" and she left him standing there, hurt, angry, bewildered and disappointed.
Thanks for reading! Make sure you write a review, it'll only take about five seconds of your time! :) I'm thinking of changing the title of this story, let me know what you think.