Hello there!
Well, first off, this isn't mine. JK Rowling is the genius. But the plot is mine.
This is my first fanfic! I'm having goosebumps! Please be nice to me. Comments and suggestions are welcome, but you don't have to be mean about it.
Also I would like to thank my beloved proofreader Jana! I love you with all of my Dramione shipper heart.
It was Draco's turn to do patrolling for the night again, and he could not be more annoyed. It was supposed to be bloody Granger's turn now, but somehow she bailed out and said she couldn't do it tonight. He easily disagreed, but then she had to be all bossy and shouted at his face. "Just do it, okay!", and then she just stormed off. The nerve of her, making him do orders. Who does she think she is? They were both heads, for Merlin's sake.
It was a complete shock when Draco heard the news. Out of all the boys out there, they had to pick the one who have had the rough time. He was pretty sure he was chosen out of pity, and he didn't want that. Professor Snape, his head teacher, however thought that he was deserving of the title. "Couldn't find anyone remotely intelligent for the part, if you asked me," he said. Draco shrugged. That was true.
A few more rounds and he was done, he went to the Astronomy Tower. This place had to be checked, you'll never know whoever hormone-induced couples are lurking in there in the dead of night. Furthermore, he went there to clear his mind. Other than flying, this was where he found peace and quiet. Who could have a moment's peace when you have Crabbe and Goyle mumbling nonsense or Pansy shrieking or cackling?
This place also held some dark memories for him.
The War began in this very tower. He was tasked by Voldemort to kill Dumbledore here. It scared the hell out of him, and the worse part of that situation was that the headmaster seemed to not mind. He was going to kill him and still had the air of optimism. Snape went into the picture and the rest was history.
What should be a time of contemplating and recalling memories for him was ruined when he heard someone sniffing. You will pay for this, he thought. He followed the sound, cast a Lumos with his wand, and saw a ball of hair that seemed to have a life of its own. Oh wait, he thought, and then he smirked. "I thought you wanted me to do the rounds, Granger?"
His cold voice almost made Hermione jump in fright. "Merlin Malfoy, you scared me!"
"Who would've thought the Head Girl herself would violate the rules? Shame." Draco took a step closer, and then did a shock reaction mockingly. "Blimey! There's barely any light to see you, and yet you still look horrid! Even a little more than usual, I may add."
"Oh come off it!" she barked. Typical Malfoy, seizing the opportunity when his enemies are vulnerable. If she was in her right state of mind, she would've hexed him out of the tower. But she was too tired, probably from all the crying she did that she could barely feel her eyes. "Seriously, are you that cold-hearted? If you're done, leave me be." She hugged her knees, hid her face, and resumed to leaking her eyes out.
I'm not that cold-hearted, he thought. He still knew how to act decently. He wasn't a Malfoy for nothing, they live and breathe class. His mother taught him manners, of course. And how in the world would the girls in Hogwarts fall for him without his act of being a debonair and his dashing good looks? As much as he would like to admit it, he had a soft spot for women. Especially for vulnerable ones, like his mother. He knew how hard Lucius was with his mother, and Draco was the one who glued her back to pieces, kept her sane. She was the reason he still stayed inside Malfoy Manor. Granger might have been everything he could despise of, but she was still a woman and should be treated like one. So he's in no way cold-hearted, he defended. And so he sighed, and then sat beside Hermione. She flinched at the sudden contact, what did he want now?
"I, er, apologize. It's not very, um, gentleman-like for me to say that, considering that you are troubled." Draco said, fidgeting.
Well somebody pinch me, Hermione mused, Malfoy is apologizing? Draco Malfoy, pureblood supremacist, ferret-face, and pompous git, is apologizing to someone like her? She wanted to raise her head and give him a perplexed look, but she resisted. And she'd give him a favour of not seeing her so-he-called horrid face, anyway. She didn't respond as well, thus a moment of silence.
"So you're not going to talk? I take it you forgive me then. Seriously though, why are you moping?" he asked her. She finally raised her head and looked at him, his silver locks and handsome features illuminated by the moonlight. She searched for a hint of sarcasm, or arrogance, anything at all. Nothing.
Huh.
It was hard to trust someone, especially a Malfoy, but she was just so troubled she cried again. She hid her face again.
Draco stiffened, what was he supposed to do anyway?
Tap her arm and say it's all right? Too soft.
Tell her to walk it off? Too mean.
Women, they are so complicated. So he asked again, "Really, Granger. I don't have all night."
She mumbled something. "Sorry?" And then she repeated it loudly and it seemed she was mad, but he honestly couldn't comprehend it. He was confused because it sounded like 'Morgana woke up', which was impossible. And so he just pretended that he understood. "Mmhm, go on." It was all he could say, surely that could be a good response? Hermione raised her head once again and then resumed talking, maybe now he could understand. "He said that I was always busy, that I didn't have time for him. So he broke it off."
Draco thought of what it meant. And then he remembered Weasley. The poor blood traitor and Granger had been dating? It didn't seem like it, they barely saw each other. Which explains why it didn't work out. Weasley actually had the balls to break up with her? He didn't even deserve her in any way. Blood status aside, but really, who gives a crap about that anymore? Voldemort is long gone. Oh wait, Lucius. A bit. Never mind.
She should be with someone as smart and accomplished as she is. Someone like, he didn't know, Blaise Zabini? Oh Merlin no, Malfoys were better than Zabinis.
"The nerve of Weasley to break up with you." Draco said. This time, Hermione had all rights to look at him and was baffled. He looked at her and said, "What? It's true. He doesn't deserve you, Granger." More moments of silence. They were looking at each other's eyes. Despite the redness caused by all her crying, Draco had come to realize that Hermione's eyes were not just brown, they were hazel. And there was a certain calmness, softness mixed in those eyes that made you want to be… lost in it.
Whoa. Eww.
"Don't be ridiculous. He was the only one who was interested in me, and I blew it." She looked away, breaking the contact and snuffled. "What should I do?"
Draco was surprised. Did he hear it correctly, Granger, Gryffindor self-righteous know-it-all, was asking him for advice? The world had definitely gone mad. He had a look of bewilderment on his face. This was entirely unexpected. "Well, I think it is best that you show him that you accept this… circumstance."
"Why? It would seem like I don't like him anymore."
Draco clicked his tongue, clearly Granger had no idea what goes in a man's mind. Even from an air-head such as Weasley. "Granger, Granger, Granger. Sweet, innocent Granger. Clearly you have a lot more to learn. You see, once you show that you are desperate, you'll come off as needy. Like that Lavender Blue—"
"—Brown", Hermione corrected.
"I don't care, Blue. She looks so eager to have a man, no decent man wants that. We men would like a little challenge, even when it comes to women; it gives us a sense of power. A chase, if you would like to call it."
Hermione contemplated. Wow, Draco thought, he didn't realize he could be capable of giving such advice.
"You're right, you're absolutely right. I'm not needy; I'm not one of those easy girls." Hermione said, pretty much to herself. "So, uhm, how am I going to show him that?"
"Are you really asking me for help here, Granger? Merlin's beard, the woman's lost it!"
"Come on, Malfoy! I'm clueless here! Who could be more help than a fellow man?" She whined.
"Why don't you ask Potthead? He's a man." He made a shocked face again. "Please tell me he's on the other team?"
"No, you idiot!" Hermione defended, it hurt Draco a bit. "It would be awkward to ask him, and besides he might tell Ron. He's going to want to fix it himself and I don't want him to."
"Typical Potter, trying to save everybody, even when it means meddling with other people's lives. One of these days his hero complex is going to bite him in the arse." Draco chuckled. She gave him a piercing look, but didn't last long as she sniffled the remains of her emotional distress. Another moment of silence, Draco broke it off. "Fine."
Hermione's face lit up. "But with conditions." Draco added, her lit up face went to being curious. "Only if you do my patrols for a month."
"A week." She bargained.
"Two weeks."
"Deal."
"Nope, not yet finished Granger," he raised a finger and thought for a few seconds. "And you help me with Transfigurations."
This time it was Hermione who was shocked. "Draco Malfoy is asking for help in Transfigurations? This might be the most accomplishing day of my life."
"Don't let it get to you, me helping you with Weasel is a big task. Knowing how much of an idiot he is and how inexperienced you are, we're practically in a blank slate here."
Hermione huffed. She couldn't possibly believe that she was having this deal with Malfoy, but she could not find anyone better suited. If she told Ginny instead, she was going to beat Ron's arse. And she was too busy obsessing with her other best friend. Luna would probably give that saying "Things we lose finds us in the end" crap. And Neville is as clueless as she is. She had no one else to talk to about something as personal as this. Malfoy was the only one who knew the situation, merely from circumstance, but she didn't have a choice really.
"So are the terms to your liking?" Draco asked. She looked at him, searching. He seemed innocent, not planning anything diabolical. Screw it. She asked for it, anyway. "Yes, we have a deal."
Draco smirked. "Splendid."
ooooo
Potions were a little more tolerable today, with Draco and Hermione being assigned to sit together was too formal at first. They barely spoke, since they had differences that wouldn't be settled if it weren't for some Body Bind Curse and whatnot. After they had become acquainted last night at the Astronomy Tower, it might have eased the air between the two of them. No, it's not like they were finally friends. That's preposterous, Draco thought.
"Good morning, Malfoy." Hermione finally arrived, along with two imbeciles that she called her friends, Potter and Weasley. She sat on her chair, and Draco responded, "Morning."
The look on the two others were priceless, Harry's eyes widened, and Ron looked as if he saw a boggart. They both gave a look to Hermione, asking, pleading for an explanation.
"Oh come off it, both of you. We're trying to be civil here." Hermione spoke. The two demanded for more but was not given any because Professor Snape finally entered, starting the class. Harry and Ron settled into their seats like everyone else. Draco tried to hide a smirk; the dumbfounded look on the two eggheads was the highlight of his day, so far.
"I understand that you all have been terribly occupied, with your NEWTS coming near..."
Everyone's face lit up. Is he going to give them free period? Os? Candy maybe?
"… but that doesn't excuse you all for another project which you will submit by the end of the month."
Or not. What were they even thinking? The professor had not lost his sanity. Sounds of grunting filled the classroom.
"If there is any consolation, I am allowing you all to work on this in pairs, also of your choice. Now don't get any silly ideas, I am not sick today."
But still. It was another manifest sign that the world was going to end, Snape being lenient.
"The potion that you will be brewing is located on page 291—"
"I already told Ron." Hermione whispered, without so much as looking at Draco.
What was she talking about? Oh right, the advice. Who knew Granger is that submissive to instructions? Maybe that's why The Golden Trio looked nonchalant when they arrived; it was as if nothing happened. Like no one was crying her eyes out because of some git last night. Draco sounded too concerned; he shook off the idea in his head and responded. "How did he take it?"
"He looked dumbfounded, actually, but he was pleased. It was as if he didn't expect it. I thought men liked a challenge?"
"His head is still processing it. His reaction reflects him in his natural although entirely obvious state, being stupid."
"Oh, you are such a prat. So what do I do next?"
Granger, Granger, always so eager. Well, this casualty was better than not talking at all like before. It was like dead air that could choke them slowly to death.
"You make him jealous."
"Jealous? You mean go out with another guy?" Hermione finally looked at Draco.
"Goodness, I thought you were smart to catch on?" He supressed a chuckle and then looked at her. "Not like that, I meant become comfortable with another man. But not as if you've shoved your entire being towards the other."
"Oh, what for?"
"It's the challenge, Granger. Remember, you're trying to be hard-to-get here."
"Oh! The chase! That makes total sense." She nodded. "Right."
"Miss Granger!"
They both looked in front. Snape was looking at them, a little more hostile than usual. Oops.
"I apologize for being so inconsiderate with your conversation with Mister Malfoy by incessantly talking here when in fact you two clearly have something better to talk about there. Do tell us, Miss Granger, what is this of so much importance for both of you to ignore me?"
Draco looked at Hermione, who in turn looked at him. She then shot a look to her two best friends, whose eyes were saying 'What are you even doing, Hermione?'. She looked back at Professor Snape, and responded almost inaudibly, but enough to be heard by all.
"I- I'm sorry, Professor. You see M- Malfoy and I decided to work on the potion, together."
If Draco had not mastered the look of indifference for years, he might have given away the astonishment was in his entire system right now. Thank Salazar. He only looked at Hermione, and then to her friends. Clearly they did not have the ability to hide their feelings, for Harry left his mouth open and Ron looked like he was about to throw a fit. Even Snape looked like he thought he was going mad to be hearing it. His already agitated face contorted to make it look like he had twice the amount of disconcertment.
"Well then, you both could have discussed it after class. But then it's too late, isn't it? Now can I resume without being so rudely interrupted?" Snape asked.
"Of course, sir." Hermione replied. Thank Merlin he didn't deduct any points, she couldn't stand the thought that she herself would subtract points from her house, she basically earned all of them through academics. And if he did, it would only be fair to deduct some from the Slytherin house. But Snape couldn't possibly do that on his own house. There was silence for the rest of the period.
By the end of the hour, Hermione exhaled deeply, as if she had stopped breathing after the incident until now. She looked at Draco. "Let's just talk about the potion at the Head Common Room, okay?" He shrugged. Harry and Ron instantly went toward her; Harry extended an arm around her shoulders, and then gave Draco a look of warning. Ron however, shot piercing looks at Draco as if to kill him. Too bad it didn't affect him at all; he was actually delighted as to how things are working out. This day was going pretty well.
"Hermione, I have a question." Harry asked, leading her to the door.
"Of course what is it?" Hermione replied sweetly.
"Have you lost your mind?" Harry took hold of her shoulders, almost shaking her back to her wits. She looked terrified. "Pairing with Malfoy? Not listening to Snape because of Malfoy? Pairing with Malfoy!"
"Yes Harry, I think I heard you the first time." She was pretty certain the sweetness in her voice was gone now.
Ron tried his complete best to slowly turn Hermione to his direction, not to shake her like a rag doll. "Hermione, have you gone bonkers? This is Malfoy we're talking about! Just the thought of you talking to him is unimaginable! But now, working with him, really?"
"Ron, I have been working with him since the start of the year, we're heads remember?"
"Yes, but this is different! Working with him on a project? That's more… intimate."
Wow, Hermione thought. Draco's diabolical plan is actually working. Thank Godric she easily thought of that excuse while she was being pressured by Snape to answer. It was completely unexpected, but who cares? The plan was working! She sighed and looked at Ron softly. "Ronald, I respected your decision about… us wholeheartedly. Don't you think it's only fair that you do the same for me?"
"Hermione…"
"I cannot believe this is happening! You and Malfoy!" Harry cut in. Ron gave him a look of disappointment. It was their moment, Merlin. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to Harry. She took his hands in both of hers and looked him in the eyes.
"Please don't take this badly. Not for Malfoy, but for me. Besides, I'll be fine. I'm smarter than him, anyway."
Harry sighed in defeat and chuckled. "Well, you are the brightest witch of our age. But if he so much as touches you—"
"Don't even go there, Harry. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you like Malfoy." Hermione smirked.
"UGH! Gross!" Ron's face contorted.
"What you said just made me think of the unimaginable, which I'd like to erase right this instant. Obliviate me, will you?"
Hermione's smile faded. Ron stopped laughing, and Harry wanted to punch himself for even saying the word. "I- I'm sorry—"
"No, it's fine." Hermione chuckled, or at least she tried to, and made it seem convincing. "Let's go to our next class, shall we?"