THE COALITION

Part one-The Library Conversation

"I would like to know my options," he continued, " I want to know which sides would benefit me more." His eyes were showing something that Hermione would associate with sincerity, something of which she's not accustomed to Draco Malfoy.

They were silence. Part of which due to the weirdness of the the conversation. She looked at Draco intently. 'What in the hell is he on about?'. She was just sitting in her corner of the library, doing her fourteen inches long potion essay that is due next month, typically, and suddenly Draco Malfoy took the seat next to her and started a talk. Just talk. To say that she was dumbstruck would an understatement. Petrified would be the correct term, and she knows the feeling very well.

What more surprising was that Draco is conversing in a tone that is quite civil. More surprised that he called her 'Granger'. With no venom or spite. No 'bushy-haired know-it-all Granger'. No 'filthy little mudblood'. Yes . He just sat next to her and started to talk incessantly, not giving her time to process the situation.

"What are you doing?", she interrupted the rant. "What do you want?". Her instinct started to kick in. Her hands gripped her wand ready to hex the hell out of him albeit maybe a little too late. Maybe.

Draco noticed Hermione's gesture. He gave her his signature smirk. " Relax Granger." he took his wand and put his hand out in the air along with his wand in a defeated gesture, "I'm not here to do harm," his grey eyes look straight in to Hermione's brown. Then he put his wand forward, gesturing for Hermione to take it. "You have my word." he said, "and my wand."

Hermione stared at the wand in disbelieve. She shot Malfoy an inquisitive look. The eternal smirk that was Draco's still plastered on his pale alabaster face. Her guts is telling her something's going on. Some kind of prank maybe. Her eyes started to dart around, looking for his usual henchmen, the two ape men that follow Draco around like dogs.

" They're not with me today. Told 'em to go find some food," Malfoy responded Hermione's thought. Now that's interesting. Can he read my thought just like that, does he know legilimens? Her eyes started to light up with curiosity. " I don't read minds nor do I know legilimens, not that I didn't try mind you. You're just to transparent. I can tell what you're thinking a mile away," he was still keeping his hands from his wand but still holding his signature all-knowing smirk.

Being Hermione, she secured Draco's wand to her robes. Still wary of his motive, Hermione pointed her wand at Malfoy, constant vigilance, it maybe an advice from an impostor, but she never let a good advice unheed. " Now spill." She said in a voice void of any emotion.

Quirking an eyebrow, Draco seems quite surprise to see the control that Hermione have on her emotions. Impressive, for a griffyndor that is. " Well. As I was saying earlier, i was wondering what you lot were doing up on the seventh floor because whatever it is, I want in."

Now this is bad. " What are you talking about?" 'He can't know about the Room of the requirement right?' Hermione was trying hard to hide her shock. Really hard. but unlike the Slytherin, The signs of shock clearly shows on her feature.

"Oh, don't pretend you don't know. I'm the one in charge of that area you know. It's my patrol route, and I've seen you lot sneaking around there what? Three times now. You should really be carefull you know. Never know what's lurking in the shadow watching your merry bands of wonder. You do know that Umbridge toad outlaw gathering of more than two person, or was it three, oh never mind that, bollocks is what it is. What the hell was Dumbledore thinking hiring her, must be losing his marble..." Hermione was still dumbstruck by this revelation as Malfoy continued to drone on, "...Goldstein, Lovegood, that Hufflepuff bloke...well, you know them. Now, why don't you tell me, what the hell are you doing in there? If its somekind of orgie, nevermind me then, but if you're really doing something to undermine Umbridge, I want in." He was just fishing for some reaction from Hermione, and boy did she eat the bait alive.

" You're in the inquisitorial squad Malfoy, does it make any sense for you to join us?" Hermione stated.

" Ah, so there is a gathering of some sort." Making Malfoy smirked even more. " You're so easy to manipulate you know that. You just confirmed to me that you and your friends are indeed going against Umbridge."

" I Can always obliviate you Malfoy. But seeing that I have your wand, lets play this little game of yours shall we? " still holding her wand toward Malfoy, " Now, let say that you really want to join us Malfoy, wouldn't it be pertinent if you tell me why? And put that in mind that I'm the one holding the wand."

"Didn't i tell you just now. I said I want to keep my option open"

"What do you mean Malfoy?"

"You like saying my name don't you?"

"Keep saying that to yourself, now what do you mean by keeping your option open?"

Hermione's eyes was lock on Draco's. This is clearly making the blond uncomfortable. Hermione's gaze was full of curiosity, wariness, and suspicion. Keeping his unusual honest countenance," Why, Granger, don't you notice or have you been living under a rock? There is a war brewing Granger, and war is fought with sides. I need to make a decision and you are going to help me."

Somehow, this does not surprise Hermione. It's a known fact that slytherin are opportunist by nature and this boy...man in front of her is by any means the perfect slytherin specimen. But with slytherin there is no way such a straight forward conversation even possible. Now this surely is confusing for Hermione, having experienced slytherin wrong doings her whole school life, this conversation with Malfoy is the first civil one she had with the blond. What could he really want.

" Don't be difficult Granger. I'm simply trying, what you gryffindor call, to do the 'right' thing. And I'm simply being totally honest with you. I've considered lots of way on how to tackle this, convincing you, and In my observation of you, its always good to start with complete honesty." His voice never waivered, every word laced with confidence.

"Observation of me?"

"Of course Granger, as you already have proven, the way you handled your emotion. Imagined if this was a conversation of Potter and I," Hermione stiffened at this, its true, Harry always has problem keeping his emotion in check, " We would be hexing our arse off, and belief me, I abhor violence. Verbal spat no problem, but never a physical confrontation Granger. I hate them not because I'm not capable, but because I hate the feeling of it. Now, what say you Granger. Am I in or am I not?"

" Huh?"

" Don't make say it for the third time Granger. Are you really as smart as you exam score?" He lift his eyebrow in a questioning manner. Hermione scowl at this.

" I heard you the second time Malfoy." She deepened her scowl. " but i cant make this decision alone. I have to ask Harry, and frankly Malfoy, it's a no brainer. He'll say no before i even say your name out loud."

" Don't underestimate yourself Granger. You hold a lot of sway against potter. Hell, no doubt that he would even adopt me if you say the word Granger," He looked at her, " Don't ask him to adopt me Granger. Think about it this way, I'm a Malfoy." He deadpanned.

Confused," and that means what?"

Malfoy let out a small laught , " It means money and influence, my clueless little muggleborn. One that Dumbledore really wants but can't have. And believe me Granger, your side will need it." He move closer in front of Hermione, " and of course you'll have me as an asset."

"Really Malfoy? Money and influence? What will we do without you!" Sarcasm dripping with every word she said.

"Gryffindors, " Draco muttered. " War is not Fought with ideals, its fought with money. Keep that in mind," and he added in a whisper, "...Hermione. You'll need me. And I will need you." He straightened up with such grace that it make Hermione twinge with jealousy, wishing just half of the grace that is Draco Malfoy. " Well, I've laid down my proposal. Think about it. He started to walk away, then stopped," Oh, wand,.." and his wand darted off Hermione's robe and land on his hand. Non verbal and wandless. The surprise keep piling on for Hermione Granger, and she still has the damn essay to finish after the weirdest conversation she ever has in the library.