"So they are the Boy-Who-Lived-To-Piss-Me-Off's parents yes?" Malfoy asked his hand going to Hermione's chin, to close her open mouth.
"Not very lady-like Granger" he smirked as she glared at him, slapping his hand away
"Care to explain what is going on? And exactly why do they seem unaware of our presence?" he continued, hoping she would give him some sort of explanation before the throbbing in his temple turned into a piercing migraine.
"Well, it looks like that blasted diary has sent us back to their era and they can't hear us because it's all like dream. Harry explained to us after Riddle's diary sent him back in second year that the events have already happened so it's like watching a dream. They can't see or hear us because technically we are not here"
No, the throbbing was only getting worse.
"And exactly why? And how do we get back? I'd rather not be stuck in the past with Little Miss Bookworm" he sneered at her and she glared back at him
"It's hardly a thrilling prospect for me to be stuck in the past with the Amazing Bouncing Ferret!" she returned, her cheeks flushing with rage.
He turned away. Something about the way she flushed that shade of crimson made him picture hazy images of crisp white sheets and a naked curly haired girl with her head thrown back and gasps of passion.
He shook his head in an attempt to dispel the images that were coming thick and fast in his head and causing a slight throb in somewhere other than his temple.
"I have no idea why this particular timeline but just shut up and watch it like a movie…"
"What's a movie?" his brow furrowed in confusion
"Never mind" she sighed "it's a muggle thing so you wouldn't understand"
"Too right" he muttered as she sent a fierce look his way, barging past him to follow Lily and James deeper into their common room. They were snuggled in a love seat in the corner.
"So what now then, Granger?" he asked, stepping up behind her, a little closer than necessary, his nose almost pressed into her curls. He tried, and failed, to repress the urge to breathe in her scent. He closed his eyes and inhaled the intoxicating aroma of oranges and cinnamon. He knew on a rational level he shouldn't be giving in to base desires, but in such close proximity, with her completely unaware, he was fighting a losing battle to maintain composure.
"Well we just have to let it run its course. We cannot interact with the people we see, and we are only able to watch what unfolds; we cannot do anything else" she whispered, transfixed on the private moment of intimacy she was watching unfold. It was fascinating
The pair were in a lip-locked embrace, full of tenderness and a charming sense of passion. They were clearly in love, but in a traditional romantic kind of way, there was warmth in their eyes not lusty heat. It was certainly a wonder to behold and Hermione felt less voyeur and more a sense of privilege to witness such emotion.
Hermione was now aware of Draco's proximity, his nose close to her ear, but it didn't startle her, and on some level she was vaguely aware that this in itself should concern her, but she was also away of some vague sense of acceptance of his presence within her personal space. She couldn't deny a certain level of attraction to her verbal sparring partner and she was aware of a sexual spark that would ignite in her when he really got her temper flaring. But this… this was different. She almost felt a sense of mirroring what she was watching and she secretly wondered what that muggle saying was about art imitating life.
Before she could question it further her musing was interrupted by a loud noise coming from the direction of the portrait hole
"Prongs! Prongs! Get out here!"
A knowing smile graced her lips and confusion was etched on the face of Draco as she shoved him to one side, the young lovers scurrying from their corner, heading in the direction of the call. That voice, Hermione thought with bittersweet glee, was unmistakable.
"What is it Padfoot?" James jovially replied, stepping out into the hallway to greet his partner in crime and all things deliciously devious.
"Did we disturb you lovebirds?" he grinned, winking at Lily who playfully punched him on the arm. "Moony and I were thinking of taking a stroll down into the grounds, see what fun there is to be had" he continued his playful banter "unless you two had other plans"
Remus rolled his eyes and shuffled his feet. Lily slipped an arm through his and gave his bicep a gentle squeeze.
"Come on then boys, I guess we can study a bit later" she said grinning at her companions, her eyes shining brightly as she revealed in their banter. There was no denying the closeness that the group had and Lily was clearly the center of it, and Hermione thought of Harry and Ron and the closeness they shared.
The foursome started down the hall and Hermione and Draco made to follow, but were stopped in their tracks as a coldness past through them, eerily reminiscent of the feeling experienced when the evanescence of one of the House ghosts, or Moaning Myrtle in a fit of rage, melted through them, and both were startled to see Peter Pettigrew loping behind them. Hermione found herself remembering Harry's retelling of the conversation between Fudge and Madam Rosmerta and her description of how Pettigrew would always be trailing behind Sirius.
Draco's steely gaze of confusion met her chocolate hazel eyes and she only needed one word to convey meaning
"Wormtail" she muttered.
His curt nod confirmed his understanding and they made down the hallway after the group.