I started out writing this wanting to keep to Half-Blood Prince framework the best that I could…but now I feel as if I need to move away from that storyline and timeline in order to make the story work. There may be snippets of things that line up, but for the most part the timing will be different from JK's flawless book. Along those lines, none of these characters are mine (obviously). Also, this is my first story…so don't judge me too harshly!
In the weeks following her encounter with Malfoy, Hermione did her best to keep him out of her thoughts. During their shared Potions class, she determinedly kept her mind on her own potion and tried not to look over at the blond. However, it became harder and harder each day. She wondered what he was doing when she wasn't around him and hated herself for wanting to know.
Hermione had never been one to be infatuated with or distracted by members of the opposite sex. Even when Viktor Krum, a world-famous Quidditch player, showed interest in her, she hadn't let it keep her from helping Harry or keeping up with her studies. She was too focused on the future, too involved in the fight against Voldemort to let boys get under her skin. That was before that first morning in the hallway with Malfoy, though.
Every time since then when he saw her in the Great Hall, he would smirk at her, as if he knew something that she didn't. It was infuriating! Wasn't it just a few years ago that he had first called her a Mudblood, making her cry and almost making her wish she hadn't come to the magical school? Why did she care so much what he was up to?
She had moved past this insult, but he had always annoyed her. Up to this point though, she had thought it was just his arrogant personality and swagger. Now she realized that it wasn't fair that someone with such a foul demeanor should be so good looking. With his perfectly groomed white-blond hair, broad shoulders, and constant smirk, he was enough to make any girl look twice, most likely more. Hermione had always overcome this though, until their close proximity had forced her to notice more about him. She hated it.
She also hated the way he plagued her thoughts, even to the point where she was not thinking about Harry or Ron as much as she used to. This was possibly a plus, but not when the new object of her thoughts was Draco Malfoy. Honestly.
At the start of October, Hermione had resigned herself to not think about him, or his stupid blond perfect hair. That is, until Advanced Potions that Monday.
"All right class," Slughorn exclaimed, clapping his hands gleefully. "I will be pairing you up today so that we don't have the same people slacking off while their partners do most of the mixing." He looked knowingly at Ron, who often partnered with Hermione because she was so talented in Potions, or with Harry, because he had the most helpful Potions book. Ron looked away from Slughorn, perhaps in hope that the professor was not talking about him, and would pair him with one of his friends.
"Let's have Mr. Weasley and… Ms. Brown," Slughorn said thoughtfully, and Ron begrudgingly left Harry and Hermione's table to join the giggly sixth-year. "And in the spirit of mixing things up, let's have Mr. Potter and Ms. Patil." Parvati Patil rolled her eyes, having lost all interest in Harry after he abandoned her at the Yule Ball in their fourth year. Harry made his way over to Parvati's table.
"Also, let's have Ms. Granger and… Mr. Malfoy." Hermione looked up, mouth agape, and Malfoy smirked at her.
No, no, no, she thought, this isn't good. As Malfoy made his way over to her table, he eyed her entire form; probably to make me uncomfortable, she thought. She wished it wasn't working, but she flinched as she could feel his eyes raking over every inch of her. Why didn't I do my hair today? She toyed with the bushy mess she had pulled back into a loose ponytail as she normally did in classes. Don't be stupid! You don't do your hair for Malfoy!
As he took his seat beside her, she scooted her chair a couple of inches away from him. He noticed, and looked as if he was about to speak when Slughorn clapped his hands, having paired up the rest of the class.
"Today we will be brewing the Beautification Potion. This potion is not too complicated, but parts of it are very finicky so you will have to pay close attention, especially when adding the gurdyroots….make sure they are put in at exactly the right time!" Slughorn smiled and began to make his way around the room to answer questions.
"Beautification Potion, eh?" Malfoy quipped. "I wonder who could use one of those…"
Hermione flushed at this. Why was he doing this? They had to work together, they might as well avoid snipping at each other's heels. She stated this, and Malfoy just stared at her.
"Well? What do you think? I personally don't like you, but I'd rather not have to bite your head off every while working on this dumb potion," she mumbled. Malfoy just smiled, a genuine smile instead of his signature smirk.
"Very well, Granger." He seemed to know the effect he had on her, and instead of taunting her with his words, throughout the class period he delighted in getting closer and closer to her, touching her whenever he could and making her flustered.
"Could you just move away, please!" she exclaimed when she dropped the lacewing flies she was about to add as he grazed the back of her hand with his. He complied, but continued to stare at her as she read the directions given in Advanced Potion-Making.
"You know, Granger," he said thoughtfully, as he looked her up and down, "I hadn't noticed before, being a pureblood and all, but you're rather fit, aren't you?"
She blushed unwillingly. "I don't see how that matters to you, Malfoy."
"Oh, normally it wouldn't. But seeing as how we'll be partners for Potions from now on…I like to take an interest in the people I work with."
"From now on?" she exclaimed, alarmed. "I thought it was just for this potion, just for today!"
Malfoy frowned. "Oh, perhaps that was Slughorn's plan…hmm." And he was, thankfully, silent for the rest of the class. Hermione was relieved.
Until they turned in their near-perfect Beautification Potion (that Malfoy had not contributed to once). Hermione was packing up her books and supplies when she heard Malfoy call out to the professor: "Oh, Professor Slughorn?"
"Yes, m'boy?" Slughorn answered him, distracted by taking up and marking down the potions.
"I was just thinking, it was a wonderful idea on your part to pair us up with people we don't normally work with…I thought that maybe we could stay in these pairs for the rest of term. Just to learn how to work better with others. Don't you think?"
Slughorn considered him thoughtfully. "Why, Mr. Malfoy, that is a splendid idea! Class, you heard the dear boy. These will be your partnerships for the rest of term, so for the next class work on an essay with your partner about the Beautification Potion today, its benefits and disadvantages, and how your potion could have been better." With this statement, he eyed Ron and Lavender, whose potion had turned a murky brown instead of the hot pink color it was supposed to be. Ron cast his eyes downward and Lavender just giggled.
"Oh, and Malfoy," Slughorn added in a slightly lower tone, "why don't you join us for our next dinner party? I'll have an invitation sent to you when we set a date."
Malfoy grinned, much to Hermione's dismay. She could not believe what was happening. This could not be happening! "I would love that, Professor. I will be sure to accept."
Then he turned towards her. He winked at her mischievously, and whispered in her ear as he passed her on his way out the door.
"I guess we'll be seeing much more of each other after all."