1.
Malfoy is obsessed with Granger.
That's what Harry thought as he sneaked a glance at his friend who was currently glaring at a bushy-haired bruntette across the Great Hall passing out schedules to her fellow sixth years.
It wasn't really much of an observation but more on the borderline of truth and insanity. Growing up with Draco Malfoy and being his best friend meant that you were privileged or cursed with the knowledge that when he sets his eyes on something, the fixation comes close to being crazy.
At first, Harry thought it was just a phase. Something for Draco to vent his tantrums on considering Dobby was at the manor while they were here in Hogwarts and Granger happened to be available as a target for his newly learned was a rivalry he couldn't understand since Granger fought back as much as she could. That was when they were eleven.
Draco just turned sixteen.
Harry just couldn't understand what it is with Hermione Granger that makes Draco so fascinated... Or frustrated for that matter. It was like he wouldn't be able to function properly if he didn't get to torture the girl for a day. There was this one time in fourth year that Granger was suddenly absent for the whole day and they didn't know where she was. They consulted his Marauder's Map and Draco almost tore it apart when they couldn't find her in it. Apparently, there was this emergency that she had to go to so she was called back home. She didn't return for a full week and Draco was like in withdrawal. It was like seeing a person after he was cursed with the Cruciatus curse. Several times.
When Granger returned, Draco was almost gleeful. And you can say that this is serious for Draco can never be really associated with being gleeful. It was ridiculous. It was like he was glowing with uncontrolled happiness. Blaise even commented on how Draco could do without the halo that was hanging over his head. See. Glowing.
Ofcourse, Harry should have seen it coming that time. It was a true Draco fashion for him to welcome Granger back with a nasty prank. When supper was over, Draco immediately followed Granger out the Great Hall and motioned for Harry to come with him. He sighed back then, and nodded his head towards Zacharias Smith and Justin Finch-Fletchy, their other two best friends. They all got up and followed Draco who was now taunting Granger.
''You know Granger it's no really use to run considering how short you are and I have long legs... I can easily...'' He grabbed her arm and pushed her on the wall roughly, her head rather hitting it loudly and I cringed when I heard the sound. ''...catch you.'' Malfoy was grinning like a maniac now. It was as if he was excited.
''He seems excited, it's weird.'' My thoughts exactly.
I looked at Zach as he leaned casually on the wall opposite from Malfoy and Granger when he whispered those words to us. Justin just sighed and slid down on the floor. Is it just me or are they thinking that this scenario was getting too old for us? I mean, six years of targetting Granger is a bit too much.
''I can't believe you left Hogwarts for a mini vacation without even a goodbye Granger. I gotta admit, I was offended.'' Draco taunted her continuously but the weird thing is Granger remained silent. It was new and it was unnerving all of us specially Draco because this is what he lived for. This was like their foreplay before he goes and hexes her.
''It's their convoluted way of communicating their attraction for each other.'' Justin once said when they were on Hogsmeade and Draco was with his parents on a visit.
''Have you gone mental? Draco Malfoy having the hots for Hermione Granger? Bucktooth Granger? Seriously?'' Zach laughed out loud and I gazed curiously at Justin. He greeted his fellow Hufflepuffs who passed by their table and Harry had to smack his arm to stop him from oggling the girls and continue explaining his theory.
''You would have to be blind not to see all that sexual tension whenever they're arguing mate! It's like Draco gets off everytime he manages to rile up Granger. It's not rocket science to pick up the signs.''
''Rocket what?'' Zack asked.
''Muggle thing.'' Harry murmured. And that was the exact moment when he actually started observing Draco.
''When I'm talking to you, you're supposed to look at me and not on the ground.'' Draco hissed while jabbing his wand under her chin and forcing her to look at him.
And that's what happened. She just looked at him. She did nothing else.
''Silent treatment? I think we've done this before Granger and as I remember correctly, it didn't work.'' She just stared at him.
Justin and I looked at each other and stood up from our place from the floor. We started going near the pair when Malfoy grabbed Granger's robes by her collar and slammed her back on to the wall.
''I'm the player here Granger. Not you! You...'' He garbbed her hair and Justin told him to stop. This wasn't our usual way of tormenting Granger. This physical abuse was like an unspoken agreement between the four of us to never do. ''...are just the mouse that I like to practice my hexes on. So stop trying to act like you're the one in control here!'' It was like Draco finally snapped.
''Malfoy stop!'' Justin grabbed Draco's shoulders and pulled him away from her but he still wouldn't let go. Zach had his wand out and his face was so pale, it was as white as a sheet of paper.
''Granger, don't just stand there! Fight him off like you usually do! Come on! Hey! Snap out of it!'' Justin was shouting now and I looked around to see if we were going to be caught. Hope it's not Filch and his damn cat.
Draco just laughed at this and taunted Granger more looking like a deranged man while she just let him hurt her. Draco waved his wand and Justin was sent flying towards the wall. He waved it again, a hex on his lips and Grangers robes vanished.
''Let her go.'' Zach whispered, his hand shaking while he gripped his wand but Draco didn't hear him what with Justin hollering at him to stop and his own voice shouting at Granger to get up. There was something in my head that told me I should stop this thing not because I cared about Granger's welfare or Draco's sanity, or even Justin's bruised back but for Zach who was turning purple by the minute. However, I wasn't able to pursue this thought as I was the only one aware of incoming footsteps.
''Draco...'' I tried to get his attention and looked behind me. I didn't want to get a detention what with Quidditch practice. ''Draco!'' Justin stopped moaning on the floor and looked at me while Draco stopped sending shocks from his wand to Granger. There was silence, then footsteps.
''Let's just go!'' Justin said as I helped him stand up, getting ready to bolt.
''I'm not done with you yet.'' Draco snarled and pulled Granger by the hair making her stand up. The prefect's bathroom was just around the corner and we had access to it considering how Malfoy is the son of the school's governor.
I was too busy hoping that those footsteps weren't actually footsteps of a prefect who decided to have a bath in the middle of the night that I didn't see Zach charging towards Malfoy who pushed Granger on the humungous bath tub and was holding her head down!
''I told you to let her go!'' Zach screamed on top of Malfoy. And that's when it hit me and I think Justin remembered it too for we both sprung up and took Zach's form off of Draco. ''You don't listen! Why wouldn't you listen?''
''Hey man... It's okay. We got you. We got you.'' Justin said as soothingly as he can to Zach who was now huddling on the floor.
Malfoy just laid there staring at the ceiling, a guilty look on his face.
''I forgot.'' He whispered and then stood up and left.
We all basked in the silence with the occasional 'He won't listen. He won't listen.' from Zach. We waited for a while for him to calm down and then Justin also left to bring him to Madame Pomfrey.
I was brought out from my reverie when I heard sounds of water dripping and sloshing and saw Granger out of the tub and sitting on the floor looking for her wand in her pockets. I gripped mine and resisted the urge to help her, to dry her up or tell her I'm sorry. I'm sorry I did nothing. I'm sorry Malfoy was such a bastard to you but that's how it is and I think it's his way of saying he's in love with you. I'm sorry you had to see Zach snap but he can't really help it since his mind is a bit messed up what with him growing up watching his mother and older sister get beaten up by his drunk dad until they died, but no worries he's in Azkaban now. I'm sorry but I can't really explain anything to you because I don't know how.
That night Harry left Hermione Granger in the prefect's bathroom without saying anything. That was also the night that marked the end of their childhood. Granger became a recluse and Malfoy became more violent although Harry did his best to keep him at bay. Zach stopped hanging out with them since Draco's violent tendencies towards Granger set him off and Justin didn't like hurting a girl.
''Spells and other hexes can be taken back, they have a counter charm. But hurting a girl physically... You can never take that back. I'm a lover not a fighter.'' Justin said it with finality and up to this day, he remained firm on his decision. ''You're just as bad as him Potter. You just stand there and do nothing.''