The Times She Hated Him
Year 1
Hermione walked slowly towards the Forbidden forest behind Harry, Ron, and Hagrid with Fang next to her and Draco Malfoy slightly behind her carrying a lantern. She was listening to Hagrid explaining their detention when she heard steps quicken behind her and a dark shape appear next to her.
Malfoy.
She glanced at him quickly, his white blond hair illuminated by the lamp and the angles of his face sharpened by the shadows. He looked at her and his scowl deepened.
"I bet this is the first time you haven't been the perfect little student?" He asked/stated with a raised brow and small smirk
"Yes. And it's all thanks to you." Hermione said coldly staring ahead of her.
"Thanks to me?"
"Yes. Thanks to you. You were so desperate to get us in trouble." Hermione said with a sniff.
"Yeah well look how well that worked out for me. I'm here too you know. Besides you shouldn't place all the blame on me. You were out after curfew following your precious Potter around. You broke the rules Granger. Don't be upset with me for your mistake." Malfoy said looking at her.
"You could've stayed out of it! It had nothing to do with you." Hermione said loudly before blushing as Harry and Ron turned to look at her.
"You okay Hermione?" Harry called back to her.
"Yeah he isn't bothering you is he?" Ron asked glaring at Malfoy.
"I'm fine Harry. I can handle it Ron." Hermione called to them. The boys nodded and turned back towards the Forbidden Forest.
"Aw Potter and the Weasel are worried about you." Malfoy said laughingly. "How sweet."
"Leave them alone Malfoy." Hermione said darkly.
"Don't tell me what to do Granger. You're nothing compared to me. You should be begging my forgiveness for this whole mess" Malfoy said lifting his face up and looking down at her.
"I hate you." Hermione said glaring at him and biting the inside of her cheek.
"I know." Malfoy said turning to face the Forest.
They walked together in silence for the rest of the trip to their detention destination. Hermione silently questioning the blond boy next to her and said boy questioning his own actions towards the bushy haired bookworm. Both knew only trouble could come from this.
….
Year 2
Hermione had gone to the Library after dinner. She knew that it was dangerous but she wanted to do a little research to see if she could find answers. She was sure she had read about an incident similar to the ones going on at Hogwarts.
"Granger" a smooth voice drawled as books were dropped unceremoniously on the table in front of her.
"What do you want now Malfoy" Hermione sighed as she glared at him. "Didn't fit in all the insults you wanted earlier?"
"Just wanted to do a bit of revision before curfew is all."
"And you couldn't pick another table?" Hermione asked as she waved her hand at the empty tables surrounding them. "I thought you wouldn't want to be seen with a lowly Mudblood like me."
"Still upset about that then?" Malfoy asked with a smirk. "I was just stating the facts Granger." He leaned closer to her, staring into her chocolate eyes and stated in a low voice "You are a Mudblood."
"And you're a stuck up, egotistical bastard that has nothing better to do than bully those who you think are lower than you." Hermione said in one breath.
"I don't think it Granger. I know it." Malfoy said with a smirk.
"Well could you know it somewhere not near me?" Hermione asked looking back down at the book she was reading.
Malfoy was silent for a few minutes and all that could be heard between the two of them was the scratching of the quill Malfoy was using to write his essay for potions and the flipping of pages as Hermione scanned them searching. She had gone through 3 books and Malfoy had moved onto his Transfiguration assignment before Hermione moaned leaning back in her chair and rubbing her eyes.
"It's hopeless." She whispered to herself with closed eyes. Suddenly she heard a dragging sound and opened her eyes to look at Malfoy who had slid her book to him and was quickly scanning the page before sliding it back to her.
"Still haven't figured it out then." He said quietly.
"Figured what out?" Hermione asked as her brows drew together.
"What's causing the accidents around here." Malfoy said going back to his assignment.
"What and you have?" Hermione questioned.
"Obviously."
"Well care to share?" Hermione asked in an annoyed tone.
Malfoy reached down into his bag and grabbed a small balled up sheet of paper and gently tossed it to Hermione before going back to his assignment. Hermione looked at him quizzically before slowly unfolding the paper and quickly scanning it.
"Oh of course!" Hermione said suddenly before biting her lip "But how is it getting around?" She questioned as Malfoy looked back up at her watching as she worked through the problem. Both were silent for a moment before Hermione brightened and snapped her fingers.
"The pipes!" She exclaimed loudly and quickly scribbled it on the sheet. "But it says anyone who looks at it dies. No one has died."
"Then obviously no one has looked directly at it. That one kid…. Creevy is it? Saw it through his camera. The other kid saw it through nearly headless Nick." Malfoy said in a smug tone.
"And Nick is already dead so he couldn't die again." Hermione said in a quiet tone.
"Well done Granger." Malfoy said softly
"For a mudblood." Hermione said quietly before quickly glancing up at Malfoy. "How did you figure it out so fast? It's only just happened. Unless you know who opened the Chamber of secrets?" Hermione asked glaring at Malfoy.
Malfoy looked back at her for a few seconds obviously deciding something before opening his mouth.
"Not exactly who. I know how. And why." He said leaning back in his chair.
"And you were going to let it happen weren't you." Hermione asked accusingly.
"It's targeting Mudbloods not Purebloods. Your problem not mine." Malfoy said as he gathered his school supplies and stood up. "And being friends with potter you're probably next on the list." He said looking down at her.
"I hate you." Hermione said coldly as she also began to gather her supplies.
"I know." Malfoy said with a smirk before walking away.
Hermione watched him as he left the Library questioning why he would help her at all just as Malfoy was questioning why he had helped the mublood and gone against his own father.
She was supposed to be nothing. Lower than low. But there was something about her that intrigued him. Something that drew him to her.
He was a prick. She knew it. Everyone knew it. But there was something about him that confused her. A riddle that needed solving and who was she to say no to a challenge like that.
Watch your back Malfoy." She said softly.
Later in the Hospital Wing
"Why weren't you more careful Granger?" Malfoy asked softly as he gently ran his hand through her hair before standing, giving one last glance at a petrified Hermione before leaving the room.
…..
Year 3
She was walking down one of the several long corridors that made up Hogwarts on her way to dinner when she turned the corner and bumped into someone. Hermione had expected to feel the cold stone floor beneath her and instead found a pair of arms around her waist.
"Thank you I….." she froze as her eyes met the silver eyes of one Draco Malfoy.
"Oh it's you." She said bitterly, disappointed to see not a mark on his pale face.
"Yes me." An equally bitter voice responded "What you want to punch me again?"
"Don't tempt me." Hermione replied before blushing slightly at the realization she was still in his arms. She quickly pulled away and straightened her robes.
"That wasn't a nice thing to do Granger. I was questioned all day about the nose." Malfoy said looking down at Hermione.
"Good. You deserved it. Buckbeak barely scratched you!" Hermione snapped at him.
"That animal deserves nothing less than death. As does that oaf for allowing such a dangerous creature to be around students." Malfoy said with a sniff.
"You leave Hagrid alone. He hasn't done anything to you. Just leave them alone." Hermione said angrily, shaking at the strong emotions washing over her.
Malfoy was staring at her again obviously deciding something before opening his mouth and stepping closer to her.
"Look I never meant for it to go this far. I only wanted to get the oaf suspended from teaching for a while. I don't want the Hippogriff dead." Malfoy said in a quiet voice. His tone almost sounding remorseful.
"Then stop this… please…" Hermione whispered to him.
"Why does this matter to you? Your oaf is getting off lightly." Malfoy asked with a raised brow. He was generally curios.
"It's not just about Hagrid. Buckbeak is an amazing creature. Intelligent and beautiful" Hermione said looking up at him.
"Mmmm so rare a combination." Malfoy said looking down at her.
Brown eyes met silver as they stood there. Time slowed and they slowly drew together, Malfoys' hand coming to rest on her waist and her hands resting on his chest.
"Malfoy…. Draco…. Please don't do this." Hermione begged him
"Do what?" He asked absentmindedly still looking down at her.
"Kill Buckbeak. Please leave it alone. Tell people it wasn't worth your time or something. Please just stop it."
Malfoy pulled away and Hermione suddenly realized how close she had gotten to kissing him. What was wrong with them? Hermione wasn't familiar with this side of Malfoy. She didn't know how to react to him.
"I can't. I made a public display Granger. I swore that animal would pay. I can't go back on that now. I can't suddenly have a change of heart. I have a reputation you know." And suddenly the Malfoy Hermione knew was back with his smug smirk.
She wanted to hit him again.
"So you are going to let that innocent animal die because you have too much pride to change your mind. You're a coward." Hermione hissed at him.
"And you're not. Yes yes I know how Brave all you Gryffindors are. Brave and have no standards."
"No standards?! We have higher standards than you Slytherins. You care about nothing but yourselves. We care about others. We help people when they need it. Have you ever helped anyone in your entire life?" Hermione asked coldly, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Forgetting last year already are we Granger?" Malfoy asked also raising an eyebrow.
"I would have figured it out eventually."
"And by the time you would've someone could've died." Malfoy said smugly
Hermione stood there glaring at him. How DARE he! She clenched and unclenched her fists.
"Admit it. I helped you. I didn't have to. I could've left you to figure it out yourself."
"Yes Malfoy you helped me. You helped me after weeks of knowing what was going on. Three people were petrified Malfoy, myself included."
"If I hadn't helped you it could've been three people dead. You weren't quick enough Granger. And while you were petrified Potter and Weasel killed the damned thing so what did you actually do? They don't need you Granger. YOU needed help." Malfoy said smirking at her.
Hermione stepped towards him and turned her head up to meet his eyes.
"I hate you." She hissed at him before walking around him, making sure her shoulder bumped him on her way before a cold hand grabbed her arm, turning her slightly to look at him.
"I know." Malfoy said staring into her eyes before releasing her arm and continuing on his way.
Hermione stood there for a few moments thinking about their encounter. Malfoy had admitted he didn't want Buckbeak dead which showed he was more than just the cold, smug exterior he showed everyone. That was the side Hermione almost kissed. No. She wouldn't have. She couldn't have. She truly hated Malfoy. She hated everything he was and everything he stood for. He's been Harry's enemy since the beginning. It's just… Something about him was different.
Draco continued on his way to the Dungeons thinking about his encounter with Granger. He thought about how beautiful she had gotten to be in these few years. Beautiful?! What the hell? He had wanted to kiss her when they were talking. KISS HER! He hated her. He hated her frizzy hair that only got frizzier in potions. He hated how smart she was, how she could beat him in every subject. He hated how she was friends with Potter and Weasley. He hated that she was a Gryffindor. He hated how she looked at him.
Malfoy stopped.
He didn't hate that she was a mudblood. The top reason he should hate her and yet it doesn't bother him. He wanted her. Merlin help him he wanted Hermione Granger.
…..
HEY GUYS! Just wanted to know what you think? Good, bad, Eh *Shrug*. Should I keep it going or just stop now. If you have any comments, concerns, or complaints I'd love to hear from you. Also if you have any ideas of where this should go please help I'm having problems.
Thanks!