A/N - This was written for potato4's challenge 'Closet Challenge' in the HPFC forum.
Hermione was running down the corridor frantically searching her book bag for her potions book when she ran into a wall and painfully fell to the ground. Her bag and that of the wall she had ran into had fallen, the contents of both spilled between them on the floor. Of course, with the luck she was having that day, the wall was Malfoy.
"Look what you've done! Why don't you try watching where you're going every now and then, Granger?" Malfoy asked with no concern as to if the girl on the floor was okay or not.
Hermione looked up at him incredulously.
"I'm fine. Thanks for asking." Just as Hermione was getting up the bell rang and students began pouring out of nearby classrooms and into the corridor.
"Come on," Malfoy said with annoyance, picking up both his and Hermione's books which were in a pile on the floor and taking them into the nearest empty classroom. Hermione quickly grabbed her now empty bag and followed him so as not to get pushed into a wall by the throngs of students travelling in both directions around her.
Closing the door behind her she went to the desk where Malfoy had dumped their books and was now picking his own out and replacing them into his bag.
"Now, thanks to you, I'm going to be late for potions," Malfoy said angrily.
"Okay, it was an accident. And you're not the only one who's going to be late," Hermione said in annoyance as Malfoy headed to leave the classroom. As she was putting her books back into her bag she heard a sigh from behind her and then a bang on the door. "What's wrong now?"
"The stupid door's locked," Malfoy said shaking the knob and then banging on the door once more in frustration. "Nice going closing the door behind you."
"And what good do you think hitting it is going to do?"
Glaring at her Malfoy pulled out his wand and pointed it at the doorknob. He muttered a few spells testing the door after each. All were unsuccessful.
"Did you try alohomora?" Hermione asked.
"You're joking right?" Malfoy asked, "No, I tried to turn the knob into a teacup. Of course I tried alohomora!"
"I was just making sure," Hermione said as she hopped on to one of the desks.
"You know, just because you've got this freakishly huge brain, it doesn't mean the rest of us are idiots."
"I don't think that," Hermione said looking shocked.
"Yeah? Well, you sure act like it." Throwing his bag down Malfoy sat down on the floor, leaning back against the wall. "I think I'd rather be in History of Magic than here right now."
"What's the difference?" Hermione asked in annoyance. "Knowing you, you probably sleep in that class anyways."
Draco just ignored her remark and began playing with his wand, using it to light pieces of parchment paper, letting it burn for a few seconds and then putting it out.
Hermione crossed her legs on the desk, pulled a book out of her bag and began reading. The two of them sat like this in silence for a while before Malfoy broke the silence.
"What're you reading?"
Hermione eyed him suspiciously, surprised by his interest.
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," she said hesitantly, "You wouldn't know it."
"Vintery, mintery, cutery, corn, apple seed and apple thorn; wire, briar, limber lock, three geese in a flock. One flew east, and one flew west, and one flew over the cuckoo's nest." Malfoy said this quietly more to himself than to anyone, not fully realizing that he had said it at all.
"What was that?" Hermione asked, shocked that Malfoy had just recited the words of a muggle children's song.
"Don't know," Malfoy said shrugging, "just something I heard my neighbour singing a few times."
"It was written by a muggle," Hermione said watching the boy closely to gauge his reaction, "the book's name was taken from the same song."
"Was it?" His voice sounded uninterested, but he eyed the book curiously. "I once read a muggle book."
Again, Hermione was shocked. Realizing this Malfoy added,
"I'm not lying. It was a long time ago. I was a just a kid and had gotten lost in Diagon Alley and wound up in a bookshop. The shop keeper gave me this book called Green Eggs and Ham. Obviously I couldn't let my parents see me with it so I hid it in my cloak and then when I got home, in my room. And I read it. I read it a lot actually."
Hermione didn't know what to say. Really she just couldn't believe that Malfoy was telling her this.
"I mean, looking back on it now, it was a stupid book and a waste of my time reading it and hiding it, but at the time…" Whatever Malfoy said next was lost in silence.
As the silence stretched on Hermione went back to reading her book.
"You know, I'd think getting locked up like this you'd start doing homework or reading your textbook or something. Aren't novels a bit beneath you?"
"No, novels can be just as interesting as textbooks," Hermione said in an annoyed tone.
"Right, textbooks are interesting."
"Whatever. Isn't talking to muggle-borns beneath you?"
Malfoy laughed quietly.
"In public," he said with a smile.
Just then the door opened and Professor McGonagall walked in.
"Ms. Granger? Mr. Malfoy? What is this?" she asked staring at Hermione in shock. "Where should you be?"
"Potions," the two said in unison.
"And you think it's okay to just hang around and skip class like this?"
Malfoy stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked down at his shoes avoiding the teacher's eye.
"We weren't skipping Professor," Hermione said, "The door was locked. We tried to get out but no charm would work."
McGonagall looked at Hermione in disbelief.
"I'd think you of all students would be able to come up with an excuse a little cleverer than that. Five points from both Gryffindor and Slytherin. Now go to class."
"But Professor–" Hermione began but McGonagall cut her off.
"Ms. Granger, classroom doors lock from the inside so there is no way you could have gotten locked inside of one."
"What?" Hermione asked. But when she turned to look at Malfoy he was already hurrying out the door.
Thanks for reading! It's a one-shot for now, but I am considering continuing it and giving it two chapters. Leave a review and tell me what you thought!