I watched Malfoy prance about the halls, with all those stupid Slytherin girls trailing about him like a bunch of lost puppies. I rolled my eyes.
Ron and I had had a row and Harry was currently attending to his injured ego, there wasn't much damage done to me so I had decided to go and camp in the one place we definitely wouldn't run into each other on accident, the library.
I had Professor Umbridge's book to read as well, all that rubbish about not needing to use magic in defense. I put my head down and kept walking, ignoring the pale boy to attract too much of my attention.
"Oi! Lookie here girls!" I froze as I heard his infuriating voice. "It's Granger!" I turned my head slowly and saw a wide grin upon his face. He'd not taken kindly to me since I had discovered him following me in the courtyard during the Yule Ball
"Oh look, it's Malfoy, tell me now, I might be a mudblood but that didn't stop me from beating you on your stupid exams!" I countered. His eyes narrowed as he opened his mouth.
"Bad blood is all the world sees Granger, not how smart you are, I'm a thousand times better than you just because I can claim that I am related to a famous wizarding family. You, Potter, and Weasley are all bad news. Mudbloods, and blood-traitors alike." He spat. I flinched but turned and began marching towards the direction of the library. "You'll never be good enough!" he called to me.
Something inside me snapped as I whirred back around and stormed at him, wand brandished. I don't even remember the incantation shouted at him, just one moment he was lying there on the floor as if gravity had just decided to not favor him. I looked over at his body and back at the girls that had been with him. Their eyes were as wide as saucers and I looked at Malfoy's twitching body again. Guilt swept me into its arms and gave me a tight squeeze, calling for me to stoop down to inspect his state.
"Y-you killed him!" one of the Slytherin girls cried out, scared. I glared at her.
"Shut up, I did not kill him, he's just unconscious." I remarked, turning back to see a thin sheen of sweat cover Draco's face.
"You deserved it you git." I hissed under my breath as I hauled him up, swinging his arm around my shoulder and half dragging him back to the Gryffindor common room. The girls just stood there and watched me walk away with the Slytherin.
The boy squirmed slightly and I nudged him hard in the ribs, causing him to groan. I came to a stop, breathing hard, in front of the Fat Lady portrait, she looked surprised to see Draco.
"Cherries." I huffed, she swung open to reveal a deserted common room. I dropped the boy on the couch and fixed my robes and hair. His face was turning purple instead of its usual white and I racked my memory for what I had cursed him with.
"Uhrgh." He moaned in his induced slumber.
I thought hard, the sleeping curse? No, he wouldn't have made noise. Oh! I gasped as I recalled. I tapped my wand against his forehead and murmured the counter curse for semi-comatose jinx.
His face scrunched up but his pale gray eyes eventually fluttered open. He looked momentarily confused as to where he was exactly but when he finally shifted his gaze to me he gave a startled cry.
"G-granger!" he said, surprised. I looked back at him; his white face flushed a faint pink color.
"Draco." I replied flatly. He seemed taken aback but quickly regained his composure as he sat up and readjusted his skewed robes.
"What happened to me?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.
"I erm, cursed you and it knocked you out. I took you here where I could properly inspect and solve the problem I appeared to have created." I stated, holding my head a little higher. He stood up and promptly fell over. I tried not to giggle at the sight of him sprawled over. "Oh and I think you should sit down for a few more minutes while you regain your equilibrium." I added.
He huffed and attempted to stand again, falling a second time. I tried to help but he snarled and wiggled away. "Don't touch me!" he protested, his face against the rug. I took a seat and watched his futile struggling until eventually he just slumped over and sighed.
"Want some assistance Malfoy?" I asked. He looked at me loathingly before nodding. I stood and hauled him up by his arms and set him on the couch, his body resting on the back of the sofa. His face was flushed, a mixture of embarrassment and from the struggle to restore his vertical position.
"Why did you help me?" he asked. I shrugged, fiddling uncomfortably with my wand.
"I couldn't leave you there. You would've been hurt and I won't have anyone hurt on my watch over a schoolyard skirmish." I stated boldly. He nodded and took a deep breath.
"I think I can stand up now." He murmured. I stood and offered him my hand and he took it this time. He wobbled a bit but kept his footing and I was aware of how tall he was compared to me, the tip of my head came to his chin. There was an awkward silence until he cleared his throat and began to walk towards the portrait hole. He turned his head slightly so I could see one of his gray eyes. "Thank you, Granger." He said.
I nodded my head. "You're welcome, Malfoy." And I watched him climb through the hole and disappear into the corridor.
