Prologue.
I'd been thinking a lot about my life lately, I sort of assumed all teenagers/adults go through that point in their lives, and I guess I've come to stage in my life where I realize I'm not perfect. It's actually rather amusing how I came about this realization and its name is Draco Malfoy. The bane of my existence for the past 9 years has shown me that my depiction of myself is completely and utterly warped, and because of that I have a sense of helplessness.
I guess it all started when I ran into the spawn of Satan after brunching with Lavender Brown one afternoon. To be quite honest, I hardly recognized him, but his voice still held that mocking, arrogant quality that I could never quite forget. I faintly remember bumping into someone and dropping my briefcase and wallet and when I bent down to retrieve my items I heard his snarky remark.
"Finally found your place huh mud blood?"
My head immediately snapped up to look at who said the offending comment, but the person was at least 6 foot and instead of craning my neck and looking like an oaf, I stood up.
"Do I know you?" I glared at the almost 6"2 man with amused, titanium eyes.
The man's eyebrows peaked a bit but he gave me a crooked grin. "I feel as if I should be insulted that you don't remember me."
I gave the stranger a once over, blonde hair, gray blue eyes, arrogant, expensive dress. No surely this couldn't be, Him, but all the signs pointed to the irritating bugger and I had to bite back my sigh. I glared up at him and made sure to use my most annoyed expression.
"Malfoy."
"In the flesh!" He bowed so low his nose was inches from the floor and spared a glance up at me.
All I wanted was to get the bloody hell out of there and that goddamn prick was holding me up acting like an imbecile in a public place! I had an intense urge to take his head and slam it into my knee like I learned in self defense class. Why did he have to show up? I had gone almost two years without seeing his face and now the gods were laughing down upon me and this horrific scene. I must have been staring into space because a few seconds later I could see someone waving a hand in front of my face.
"What?" I asked angrily.
"You were staring into space; I thought you were going to have a conniption or something." He gave me a crooked smile again which made my skin crawl with detest. "Listen, why don't we have lunch and you can tell me all about what you're up to nowadays?"
"I've already eaten, and if I hadn't, I don't think I could stomach food with you around." I smirked at him but I caught a slight hurt look in his eyes but it vanished so quickly I had to wonder if it was ever really there.
"I don't understand Hermione, I'm trying to be polite yet you continue to act aggressively towards me."
"Well, the mud blood comment didn't really help your new found attitude towards me Malfoy."
"It was a joke, for old times sake, don't tell me you're still so sensitive." His comment hit me close to home for some reason and I couldn't help but lash out at him.
"Well, Ferret, I have a schedule to stick to and luckily enough for me, you're not in it. So if you don't mind, I'll be on my way." And with that, I flung my scarf around my neck, drew my purse up my shoulder and walked out the door into the glare of the sun, hoping to never see him again.
I'd been thinking a lot about my life lately, I sort of assumed all teenagers/adults go through that point in their lives, and I guess I've come to stage in my life where I realize I'm not perfect. It's actually rather amusing how I came about this realization and its name is Draco Malfoy. The bane of my existence for the past 9 years has shown me that my depiction of myself is completely and utterly warped, and because of that I have a sense of helplessness.
I guess it all started when I ran into the spawn of Satan after brunching with Lavender Brown one afternoon. To be quite honest, I hardly recognized him, but his voice still held that mocking, arrogant quality that I could never quite forget. I faintly remember bumping into someone and dropping my briefcase and wallet and when I bent down to retrieve my items I heard his snarky remark.
"Finally found your place huh mud blood?"
My head immediately snapped up to look at who said the offending comment, but the person was at least 6 foot and instead of craning my neck and looking like an oaf, I stood up.
"Do I know you?" I glared at the almost 6"2 man with amused, titanium eyes.
The man's eyebrows peaked a bit but he gave me a crooked grin. "I feel as if I should be insulted that you don't remember me."
I gave the stranger a once over, blonde hair, gray blue eyes, arrogant, expensive dress. No surely this couldn't be, Him, but all the signs pointed to the irritating bugger and I had to bite back my sigh. I glared up at him and made sure to use my most annoyed expression.
"Malfoy."
"In the flesh!" He bowed so low his nose was inches from the floor and spared a glance up at me.
All I wanted was to get the bloody hell out of there and that goddamn prick was holding me up acting like an imbecile in a public place! I had an intense urge to take his head and slam it into my knee like I learned in self defense class. Why did he have to show up? I had gone almost two years without seeing his face and now the gods were laughing down upon me and this horrific scene. I must have been staring into space because a few seconds later I could see someone waving a hand in front of my face.
"What?" I asked angrily.
"You were staring into space; I thought you were going to have a conniption or something." He gave me a crooked smile again which made my skin crawl with detest. "Listen, why don't we have lunch and you can tell me all about what you're up to nowadays?"
"I've already eaten, and if I hadn't, I don't think I could stomach food with you around." I smirked at him but I caught a slight hurt look in his eyes but it vanished so quickly I had to wonder if it was ever really there.
"I don't understand Hermione, I'm trying to be polite yet you continue to act aggressively towards me."
"Well, the mud blood comment didn't really help your new found attitude towards me Malfoy."
"It was a joke, for old times sake, don't tell me you're still so sensitive." His comment hit me close to home for some reason and I couldn't help but lash out at him.
"Well, Ferret, I have a schedule to stick to and luckily enough for me, you're not in it. So if you don't mind, I'll be on my way." And with that, I flung my scarf around my neck, drew my purse up my shoulder and walked out the door into the glare of the sun, hoping to never see him again.