Hermione was flicking through the pages of "A History of Magic" when she felt the unwelcome tingling at the back of her neck that warned her that someone was watching her. She raised her eyes, irritated, to find the source of the feeling and she was met by a pair of pale grey eyes.
"Are you actually going to say something Malfoy or are you just going to keep staring?" she snapped at him.
The library was her sanctuary and she loathed being disturbed.
He rose from where he was sitting and slowly made his way towards her.
"You're wasting my time Malfoy." she sighed and rubbed her eyes. The previous night had been tiring and her grueling timetable was starting to get to her.
"I do have something to say, Granger. But I'm not going to say it here." His slow drawl grated on her nerves and it took a few seconds before she realized that with she had been clenching her fists so hard that her chewed up nails had yet again broken her skin.
"What's wrong with here?" she demanded rudely. "Worried that someone will see the Slytherin Prince talking to a mudblood?"
"This is a library Granger." Malfoy gasped in mock shock. "I thought that surely you of all people would know that there's-"
"No talking in the library." Madame Pince finished the sentence with a stern look at the pair of them. "Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy, im going to have to ask you to leave."
"But...but..."
"You're disturbing everyone else Miss Granger." she snapped.
She had never been kicked out of the library before and felt the blood rush to her cheeks and her eyes start to water and she grabbed the rest of her books as fast she could. Crying in front of Malfoy was the last thing she wanted to do.
She stormed out of the library and rubbed at her eyes furiously.
"Whoa Granger wait up. I wanted to talk to you about something. Are- are you crying?" he asked incredulously. His characteristic smirk lit up his face.
"I'm not crying, I'm ANGRY. You got me kicked out of the library." she hissed at him.
"Whatever Granger. Look, I have a favour to ask of you." he ran his hand through his pale blonde hair, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation and the fact that he had to ask her for something.
"No."
She strode down the corridor as fast as she could.
"You haven't even heard it yet."
"Now you look; I don't care what you want from me, im not going to do it. You got me kicked out of the library and you've been a complete arse to me since the first year."
"Granger I'm desperate."
Something in his voice made her turn around.
"What do you want Malfoy?" The fight had gone out of her and now she just sounded tired.
"I need you to tutor me."
"You're joking." She said flatly.
"I'm late for class Granger. We'll sort this out later." He nodded at her before striding away.
It was evening when Hermione was sitting comfortably in her favourite chair by the fire in the Gryffindor common room. The shadows had lengthened outside and the forbidden forest looked dark and menacing from the high windows of the Gryffindor tower. She was correcting Ron's potions homework with little flicks of her wand.
"Ron...?" She put down his essay.
"What, done already?" He asked, astonished. "I figured it would take longer than that to correct. That means I did well then doesn't it?" Pride coloured his tone.
"The essay is fine Ron." She could hardly keep her eyes open, she was so tired. She yawned loudly.
"Has Malfoy been struggling in any of his classes recently do you think?"
He shrugged.
"I hope so." he muttered darkly. "You should get some rest 'mione. I'm off to bed."
"Goodnight then. I'll just finish off here. I still have to draw up the prefect patrol timings."
She sighed as he left. She hated being the last one left in the common room. She must have dozed off because she was woken up by the tapping of an owl on the window. It dropped a note in her hand before shooting her a look she could have sworn was one of disdain before flying away.
Owlery. Now. -the note read.
"What?" she mumbled to herself sleepily. Her brain was too foggy to think so in her sleepy haze she pulled on her shoes, grabbed her wand and set off.
"Going somewhere?" the fat lady asked her as she stumbled through the portrait.
"I'm hungry." she mumbled back groggily.
"Students shouldn't be out of bed at night but-oh alright I wont tell anyone this time, since its you."
"Thanks." she smiled at the fat lady in response and made her way as quickly and quietly as possible to the owlery.