A/N: After browsing story after story and completely falling in love with the idea of fanfiction, I decided to write my own. I'm new to this, so I'd love any and all constructive criticism you can provide me! I know I'm not perfect, so please, any advice or critique would be greatly appreciated.
This Dramione fic takes place during the trio's sixth year, starting off just after Chapter 24, where Harry attacks Malfoy with the Sectumsempra curse.
The rating may change as the story goes on.
Hermione looked up from her Potions book with an irritated expression strewn across her face, finding Lavender and Parvati deep in conversation about none other than Ron Weasley. They'd been gossiping relentlessly about him ever since Hermione came up to the dorm to study. The common room had been much too noisy for concentration, and she was quite disappointed when she realized her dorm wasn't much better. Though she knew it would be impossible to focus, she stuck her nose into Advanced Potion-Making once more, trying to soak up as much information about Everlasting Elixirs as possible. It came as no surprise to the girl that her roommates' chattering proved her assumptions right. For a minute she pretended to read, listening in on their conversation, though Lavender seemed to just be repeating the same complaints she'd made numerous times before. At least she's not still calling him Won-Won, she thought sourly. At once she decided to take her studying elsewhere, and stood. "Don't you two ever stop talking?" She huffed rather rudely, and exited the room, her Potions book firmly clenched in her hands.
As she squirmed her way through the crowd in the warm common room, she thought to herself, am I the only one who cares about my education? You'd think that students would have better things to do than sit around and gossip all evening. A short sigh escaped her lips as she climbed through the Fat Lady's portrait hole. The hallways were empty this time of night, much to Hermione's delight. The last thing she needed was more human interaction. She began to wander the halls, pondering the possible rooms she could study in. There were empty classrooms everywhere, though those were occasionally occupied by couples looking for a private place to snog, or like-minded people trying to read. Needless to say, they weren't ideal. I could just go back up to the common room, I suppose it wouldn't be too awful, and I wouldn't have to risk get in trouble there… I can't risk my reputation over something silly like this. Hermione frowned and turned around, cautiously making her way back to Gryffindor Tower.
And then it hit her. Why didn't she think of it earlier? The Room of Requirement. "Of course," she breathed. She turned on her heels and paced down the hall as quick as she could, while still attempting to remain undetected. Finally she reached the hall where the Room's door usually appeared. Sure enough, when Hermione walked down the corridor three times, elaborate etchings appeared on the wall, weaving through each other and forming the shape of a door. She grinned with satisfaction and reached for the handle, still gripping her book tightly. She turned the handle and pulled, swinging the heavy door open.
A short gasp emerged from the interior of the room at the sound of the door squeaking open. "Who's there?" A voice hissed. Hermione would know that voice anywhere – it's host had caused her so much trouble over the years. From calling her a mudblood, to attempting to ruin Harry's Quidditch match, to filling Rita Skeeter with vulgar lies about Harry and Hagrid for the Daily Prophet, he had proved himself to be a relentless enemy.
"Malfoy?" She groaned with disdain.
"Granger," he responded shortly, staring at her with eyes full of hatred. He was the last person she'd like to stumble upon, especially in the Room of Requirement. The room had been filled with comfy, red velvet chairs, arranged in small circles around coffee tables. The back wall was beautifully lined with shelves filled with research material and draped with pitch-black cloth, creating a comfy atmosphere. Hermione, itching to scan the shelves for a good read, had to remind herself that she was in the same room as Malfoy. Still, the opportunity was too good to resist, and Hermione set her book and wand down at the table furthest from the blond-headed prat.
Even though she'd love to, she couldn't let Malfoy's presence escape her mind. Finally, she said, "What in Merlin's name are you doing in here, anyway?"
He jumped at the sudden break of the silence, and then lit his face with an agitated expression. "Have you forgotten, Granger? Or have you just lost your wits?" The boy sneered. "This room only shows itself to those who need it. I figured Miss Know-It-All would at least be able to put two and two together."
"I- I knew that!" Hermione sputtered, caught off guard. "I was just surprised." She stood there awkwardly, her eyes never leaving the table in front of here. "I suppose you're here to study, then," she said civilly.
"Does it come as a shock to you that you're not the only student who cares about grades?" He mocked, obviously annoyed. His usual smirk was replaced with an irritated grimace. "How vain of you."
"That's not what I meant and you know it, Malfoy." He was always so difficult, always twisting words around to make them seem incriminating and awful. She crossed her arms (though it was difficult due to the fact that she was holding both a book and a wand), and hesitated to speak again. "I should probably… I mean, I'll find another room, then." And with that she was weaving through the chairs, heading towards the door, not bothering to wait for a response. What an insufferable, rude, inconsiderate pig, the girl thought bitterly as she slammed the Room's heavy door behind her. She strode down the numerous corridors, hardly bothering to be quiet, and nearly shouted the password at the Fat Lady.
"My, my, Granger, rather cross aren't we tonight, dear?" She said, and reluctantly swung open. Hermione strode through the opening and entered the common room, which, though less crowded than before, was still occupied by a fair amount of people. She spotted Harry and Ron in the chairs by the fire, looking exhausted, lost deep in conversation. She stormed past them, ignoring their calls, and went right up the stairs to her dormitory. Thankfully Lavender and Parvati had both separated into their designated beds and were quiet. At her entrance, the two looked up, observing her as she huffed angrily and fell upon her bed without a word. It became apparent to her that she wasn't the only mad one in the room as she remembered the comment she'd made as she left earlier.
Though Hermione wanted to, she couldn't force an apology out, and instead turned over, falling asleep.