A/N: So I felt rather motivated today and decided to re-write the second chapter, yay! Tell me how it is, I would love feedback.
Chapter 2: Face to Face
After several minutes of sprinting and shoving his way through the crowded hallways, Draco arrived at the portrait hole to the Head's Dormitories, and casually strolled into the Common Room. He walked over to the table in the far corner where he typically did his homework and sat down, attempting to catch his breath. He drummed his fingers on the scarred maple desk, and gazed out the stained glass window, deep in thought. He waited anxiously for Hermione's arrival, hoping she would pop through the portrait hole moments after he did, but grew terribly bored. He realized she wasn't as athletically fit as he was, but this wait was ridiculous! His eyes glazed over as he watched the birds fly from the trees in the Forbidden Forest, and silently thought of the issue at hand.
How in the world am I going to word this sudden idea to her? "Hey Granger, I've decided that I want to put all of our differences aside and be the best of friends, and while we're at it we should give sex a go, Blaise thinks it is a great way to strengthen one's friendship with a girl, and I'm a guy so naturally I am all over sex!" She would probably slap me senseless for even thinking that. Why did I think that! I definitely need to stop thinking that! I've thought that way too many times throughout my Hogwarts career! If we can't stand to be in the same room as each other, how are we supposed to actually become friends? She absolutely loathes me, and I'm not exactly fond of her either. Although I have always liked her hair, it was quite unique. It looks especially appealing after she's run her hands through it while worrying during class. It's some weird habit she started picked up 2nd year around the time when…WHY DO I KNOW THIS! And now that I think of it, I do have an odd habit of staring at her from time to time during Potions… and Ancient Runes…and every other class I have with her… and while she's studying. But if she absolutely loathed me, she wouldn't stare at me during Transfiguration. And she wouldn't purposely leave her Ancient Runes homework here for me to bring to her during breakfast every day. And she CERTAINLY wouldn't leave the bathroom after taking a shower with only a towel on, knowing I was waiting outside the door.
He continued letting his mind travel astray for several moments, but decided that his train of thought needed to end. Blaise really messed up his thinking process for the day.
He was SURE that she would at least have the courtesy to see what he felt was so important, but obviously, his issues weren't important enough to her. He stood up with a heavy heart, grabbed his books, and made his way to the portrait hole.
Hermione had dashed through the hallways, and was panting as she reached a flight of stairs. She proceeded up slower and slower until she had to stop to catch her breath. She had run into a group of bickering 3rd years on her way out of the Great Hall and was forced to split up the argument before proceeding up to the Head's Dormitories.
"Who knew it was so hard to run through this school carrying a book bag!" She thought to herself.
Her sides felt as if they were splitting and her heart was beating abnormally fast. She slowed her breathing, and after a minute or two of rest, began up the stairs again.
She had reached the top of the stairs, and was striding down the corridor leading to the Head's Dormitory when something occurred to her.
How am I supposed to tell Malfoy that I have decided I want to get along with him? He loathes me! And why in the world does he want me to meet him! He is quite aware of my distaste for him. Although I am quite fond of his hair, especially the way it looks after he returns from Quidditch, it reminds me of the way he looked after the first match he played in during 2nd year, wind blown and loose…quite attractive actually. Sort of what he looks like after I've thrown pillows at him on countless occasions for hiding my quills. And now that I think of it, I do stare at him a lot during Transfiguration…and Potions, and every other class I have with him now that I think about it. But NEVER while studying! But if he loathed me, he wouldn't stare at me during Ancient Runes. And he certainly wouldn't sit down on the couch beside me reading magazines wearing only his boxers on the same nights I decide to read on the couch. But my mind is straying; I need to think about the issue at hand.
She sat against the nearest wall, and attempted to think the matter through before proceeding to the portrait hole.
What if I say, "Hey, since we have to spend so much time together, let's agree to be civil to each other? She shook her head, knowing how terrible that statement sounded, and thought of another one.
How about, "Since the War is over and we really don't have much to hold against each other anymore, why don't we attempt to become friends. The whole house unity concept is important, and we need to set a good example for the other students." She shook her head at that too, knowing that it sounded scripted.
Oh I know, "Malfoy, I know that you don't like me, and we haven't been on the best of terms for the majority of our career here at Hogwarts, but I would really like to be on good terms, seeing we have nearly all of our classes together." She internally smiled at the statement, knowing that it sounded well worded and genuine.
She stood up from the wall, and walked toward the portrait hole.
The people occupying the portrait gazed upon Hermione, and one of the women gave her a slight smile. Hermione couldn't help but smile back. Rowena was truly one of her favorite founders, and she enjoyed seeing the woman whenever she came to her room. Salazar always attempted to ignore her when she approached, whereas Helga waved like crazy, and Gordric had the same dopey smile plastered on his face. Rowena, however, always gave her the most pleasant and genuine smile, which she treasured, seeing that the portrait rarely ever smiled at anyone else.
"Password?" The woman asked.
Hermione smartly replied, "Golden Snitch" and entered the room.
Draco crashed into Hermione as she entered the room, and both students fell onto the carpeted floor. Draco looked at Hermione with a shocked expression, and Hermione looked dumbfounded. Draco laid on top of her for several seconds, confused about what just happened, before Hermione finally spoke.
"Er, sorry I got up here a little late. There was a small fight going on outside of the Great Hall that needed to be split up before they decided to begin a duel or something."
He stood up quickly, realizing how awkward the position was, and let Hermione walk a few steps, nearly forgetting what he wanted to tell her, before quickly grabbing her arm, forcing her to turn around. Hermione's arm stiffened as she felt a series of chills crawl up her arm.
"Granger, I know this might sound really stupid, but, I'm… sorry. For the way I've treated you in the past and all that stuff. The names I called you and stuff, I guess those were kind of mean. I am sorry."
Hermione's jaw dropped, and she stared at him in shock for several moments, nearly mesmerized by his crooked smile and pale blue eyes before finally speaking.
"It's alright…you're forgiven."
She looked down for several seconds, still shocked about the fact that Malfoy had actually apologized to her, and began walking through the portrait hole. He stood rooted to the floor for several seconds, as if thinking about what to say next. He then grabbed her books and bag, which fell during the collision, then quickly turned to jog through the portrait hole. He saw her standing in the exact spot he occupied several minutes before running into her, and walked over, casually sitting on the edge of the desk. He wanted to make a comment about how annoyingly organized it was, but decided against it. Instead, he placed her bag on the desk and situated the fallen books inside of it neatly. Hermione turned, and gave him a shocked expression.
"This might sound weird of me to say, but just listen. I know you really don't like me, and I'm not too fond of you either, but since we are stuck together for nearly everything, would you mind making a truce?"
He cringed internally as he heard the word truce leave his lips, and silently scolded himself for his choice of words.
What teen actually says that word? What am I, a toddler agreeing to share his shovel with the girl who I normally kick sand at so she'll let me borrow her yellow bucket?
Hermione looked at him for a second, astonished at the fact he had actually asked the same thing she was planning on asking him, and nodded her head vigorously. Then, without any thought, she held out her pinkie and said, "You have to swear on it."
Her eyes grew large after realizing what she just did. What is wrong with me? I have not met a single mature adult who pinkie promises on such serious matters. She smiled though, hoping to cover up how childish it seemed.
Draco looked at her finger, amazed at the fact that she actually wanted to somehow seal the deal, and locked pinkies, surprised at his own hand movement.
"I promise to refrain from calling you mudblood, muggle-born or extremely offensive nickname with the intent to hurt your feelings, leaving my things lying around the common room to the point of annoyance and to be civil with your friends as often as possible."
Hermione thought about it for a moment, and quickly added "And you won't steal my doll anymore?"
He shook his head in agreement and waited for Hermione to speak her end of the deal.
"And in return, I promise you that I will refrain from calling you ferret, daddy's boy or anything else offensive in a cruel attempt to hurt your feelings. I also swear to not nag you as much, place my beauty products in the cabinet of the bathroom after using them, be civil toward your friends and not ever hang your boxers from the school flag pole again. Lastly, I promise that whenever an issue arises, I will try to work it out with you in the most civilized way possible…although that might not always work out."
He nodded his head in approval, and released his grip on her pinkie. Hermione stood in thought for a minute before speaking.
"This might sound really stupid to you, but I think that in order to try and maintain a friendship, we should attempt to actually do something together once in a while, such as studying, or talking, or…such." She seemed to take an odd pause, quickly inserted such, then stopped. Draco gave her a questioning look, and tried to pull the answer out of her.
"And what is such supposed to mean?"
Maybe Granger is getting a little adventurous with her thoughts!"
He questioned her a little more, and then started to poke her side, hoping it would somehow force the answer out of her.
"Stop haha.. Draco! HAHAH.. that tickles! Stop it!"
Draco kept poking her sides, hoping to be more successful. Hermione began laughing uncontrollably, and in her attempt to escape him, tripped and fell on the floor, hitting her head in the process.
She gasped in pain, and the confused Draco quickly knelt down to help her. She attempted to stand up, but grew dizzy and nearly fell again, so Draco picked her up and awkwardly carried her over to the couch. He placed her on the couch and then sat down beside her while waiting for her to open her eyes. Hermione situated herself in a slightly more comfortable position and smiled a little.
Well damn. If she gets amnesia from this I'm screwed. There is no way I am pulling out a sincere apology again. That was hard enough once.
Hermione's mind was zooming at a million miles an hour for the second time that day, and she would have moved to make him more comfortable, but she was still dizzy. She let her eyes open, and saw Draco looking down at her, examining her with slight worry. When he realized her eyes were open, he smiled.
"It's a good thing neither of us have a class for another hour, or else you would have to miss it, and I would have to leave you here all alone!"
Hermione rolled her eyes at his dramatic statement and slowly sat up, cringing due to the massive headache.
"You do realize that I blame this on you, right?"
He grimaced in acknowledgment. She then attempted to hit him, but ended up hurting her own hand more than Malfoy.
"Yes, and because I feel a little bad, I'll take you to the infirmary so you can get a potion for that massive headache you are sure to have."
Hermione stopped scowling before allowing Draco to wrap his arm around her waist to help her walk to the hospital wing.
So that's it for the second chapter! I feel that it is way better than the original, but I need feedback so I know for sure! Pretty pretty please be an amazing reader and review for me!