Hey people, I'm really sorry I haven't updated in a long time. I've had a lot of big projects in school lately but they're done so hopefully I'll be updating a lot quicker.
Hermione sighed and slowly made her way back into the common room where Draco was already sitting on the couch with two steaming mugs in front of him. He gestured for her to sit down and she winced.
"Do you want anything with your tea? I could make some cookies or biscuits or-"
"Granger, I'm not hungry. Now sit down and talk to me." Draco said, his voice getting softer as he spoke. Hermione sighed and sat down slowly, taking her time to sip her tea. When she put it back down and they sat in silence. Draco said nothing, letting her speak when she was ready.
"Mom's been happy lately." She said simply in a quiet voice.
"Well that's good, right?" He said, hoping to raise her spirits.
"I guess. But she's been so depressed all summer and hen for the past 2 weeks it's like a switch was flipped."
"Maybe she's really beginning to cheer up." He said, though he knew people didn't get over heartbreak that easily, especially when it had led to a suicide attempt.
"Perhaps, but I still feel like I'm going to get that letter any day now saying she's gone. It was bad enough the first time I thought I lost her, but if she did it with me not even able to be there for her…" she trailed off as little sobs shook her body. Draco was never very good with crying women, they made him uncomfortable. Despite that, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him where she continued to sob into his chest.
"Granger, nothing is going to happen. Listen, you are one of the strongest people I know. Now obviously your father was a coward, you had to get that stubborn bravery from someone. She'll pull through this. Just as you will." Hermione didn't speak, only nodded as she tentatively wrapped her arms around his waist, using his warmth and the familiar scent of man to calm her down. He rubbed up and down her back soothingly as her tears died down.
"Come on, it's late. We should get some sleep, classes start tomorrow." She nodded and let go of him, walking sleepily into her room and closing the door. Draco watched her door for a second and sighed. Contrary to how she was acting, things were not looking good for Mrs. Granger. He just hoped Hermione could handle it.
Hermione woke early the next morning in order to give her time to shower and get ready. The warm water felt good on her skin and she quickly washed her hair using the special shampoo that kept her hair straight. She used a Quick Dry spell on her hair and body and wrapped her red silk robe around her slim frame. She went to the mirror and began applying her make-up. She was in the middle of her mascara when the door opened, revealing Draco clad only in silky black boxers. Hermione looked at him through the mirror and smirked at his slightly shocked expression.
"Morning Malfoy." She said, no longer flustered by the male body. She grabbed her wand to begin styling her hair.
"Granger." He nodded sleepily and disappeared into the shower and his boxers were thrown over the top a few seconds later before he turned on the water, a little colder than usual. He was a guy who'd just walked in to see his attractive little roommate in a relatively short robe that displayed her long legs perfectly, what normal teenage male wouldn't need a cold shower? Hermione waved her wand above her head as her hair grew a few inches and styled itself in straight, thick layers. With a satisfied nod and smile she went back into her room to get dressed. She pulled on her favorite pair of black lace, boy short panties and instantly felt good. One thing her aunt had taught her was that every girl needed "power panties", and to Hermione, lace equaled power. She had a pair in almost every color. She put on her matching black lace bra and pulled on her skirt which was a few inches shorter due to her growth spurt. She buttoned up her shirt, tied her Gryffindor tie, and pulled on her sweater which was also a bit snug. She pulled on her stockings and shoes, grabbed her bag and wand and walked out of her room. Draco was waiting for her in the common room and she greeted him with a smile while secretly enjoying the view of the young man in uniform. Draco was very attractive, she couldn't deny that. But she wouldn't let herself act on her hormones, he meant too much to be with him like she'd been with Jason. They made their way down to the Great Hall and split to their house tables. Hermione was ambushed as soon as she sat down.
"'Mione! Hi!" Ginny greeted excitedly.
"Morning guys." Hermione said with excessive cheeriness.
"So how was your first night with the ferret?" Ron asked with a glare in the direction of the Slytherin table.
"Not bad actually, we just stayed in her own room." She shrugged.
"Is it just me, or is Malfoy sneering a lot less than usual?" Harry asked and they all looked at the blond young man who was staring into space as his housemates tried to get his attention.
"You're right Harry. Maybe someone finally told him how ugly it made him look." Ron said with a laugh which no one joined. Hermione noticed Ginny and Harry just watching Draco with confusion and a hint of caution.
At the Slytherin table Draco was being asked the same questions as Hermione, with a few more Slytherin insults thrown in. He ignored them, watching Hermione and hating that she had to put on an excessively fake cheerful front just so her friends wouldn't worry that her life wasn't as blissfully perfect as theirs.
"Draco, sit still for a second." Blaise said, pulling Draco from his thoughts.
"Why?" he asked in a bored tone.
"Because you've been breathing the same air as the know-it-all mudblood for the past 10 hours. You must be sanitized." Blaise smirked as he pulled out his wand. He glanced over at Hermione at the Gryffindor table and his smirk grew. "Although I must admit, she is one sexy know-it-all mudblood." Draco kept himself calm, putting on his best sneer and speaking in his cold, haughty, Slytherin Prince tone.
"What are you Blaise? A first year? Yes, Granger may have become attractive and she may be of muggle parentage but that is no excuse for a 7th year Slytherin Prefect from a respectable pureblood family to be acting so ridiculously childish." Blaise's smirk immediately faded and he slumped in his seat, remaining silent.
"Really Blaise, what are you thinking? If anything happens to Granger or she gets upset at the hands of a Slytherin Draco will be blamed and he could lose his position as Head Boy." Pansy said, trying to get Draco to appreciate her. Though she was right, if any Slytherin did something to Hermione, that house was Draco's responsibility and he'd be penalized. He was relieved when he saw the Heads of Houses handing out the time table. Snape (A/N: yes he's alive in this) handed the paper to him and he grabbed his things, heading to Charms. The class passed quickly with Flitwick's squeaky voice talking about what he had planned for their final year at Hogwarts.
Hermione was in Arithmancy for her first class and Professor Vector had already assigned them class work as well as homework. She worked diligently under the constant, rather annoying gaze of Blaise Zabini. She paused from her work to glare at him –again- and was met by his piercing blue eyes and aggravating smirk. She rolled her eyes and went back to her work until the end of the class. She made her way to Transfiguration, fully aware that Blaise was following her. She turned into an empty corridor with her wand in her sleeve where she always kept it, a habit she'd developed after years of hallway encounters. She spun quickly to face Blaise.
"What do you want Zabini?" she asked with a glare.
"Well Granger, to put it simply, you." He answered with that damn cocky smirk.
"And why would you want a mudblood like me?"
"Well I'm sure you, like myself and many other males within this fine magical institute, have noticed how incredibly beautiful you've become." Hermione put on a fake sweet smile.
"Oh Blaise." He smirked. "You're flattery just makes me," she took a step towards him, "want to," a few more steps, "vomit." She said with a sneer. Unabashed, Blaise grabbed around her waist, pulling her tight against him.
"Oh come on Granger. We both know how much you secretly want me." Another smile appeared on her face and she leaned forward, standing on her toes to lightly nip his ear. He smiled, thinking he'd won.
"In your dreams." She whisper and made to escape his embrace but he just held her tighter.
"Promise?" she rolled her eyes and pushed against his chest but he wouldn't budge. Instead he began dropping kisses on her neck.
"15 points from Slytherin." That stopped him. His head shot up and his grip on her waist loosened.
"What? Why?"
"For sexual harassing the Head Girl." With that, she kneed him in the crotch and strode off to Transfiguration.
"Anyone ever tell you your ass is phenomenal Granger?" he managed to ask her through the pain. She didn't even stop, just called over her shoulder.
"Ten more points from Slytherin."
The 7th years had a free period before lunch and Hermione went to her common room to begin her Transfiguration homework. Draco came storming through the portrait, stopping in front of where Hermione was sitting on the couch.
"Care to explain why Slytherin has already lost 25 points and Blaise is muttering something about you being a teasing bitch?" he asked her angrily.
"Yes. I took the points from Zabini." She said, not even looking up from her work.
"And why exactly did you do that?"
"Let's see. He pretty much told me he wants to have sex with me, while groping me in the hallway." She finally looked up.
"And you felt that was worth 25 points?" he seethed, partially for the point loss and also for Blaise's actions.
"Yes. It was sexual harassment." She said, just as angrily. "He also commented on me having a 'phenomenal ass' as he so quaintly put it." She stalked into her room, shutting the door. Draco couldn't help but agree with Blaise regarding her ass, it did have a very nice sway to it. He shook the thoughts from his head and went to knock on Hermione's door.
"I'm sorry Granger. For me and on behalf of Blaise. I'll go talk to him." He heard no reply but left the common room, heading for the dungeons where his friend was about to be murdered…figuratively of course.
