Clash In the Aftermath

Harry Potter Story

Draco Malfoy x Hermione Granger

Rated: M

Chapter 2

Hermione was transfixed as she read the Arithmancy text for her third year. Reading ahead of her syllabus was always a fun pastime for her. She knew it wasn't a normal trait of most people her age but she was quite a bit older than most people in their year. Harry was just about to make thirteen where she would be turning fourteen in September. Granted even people closer to her age weren't as mature as she was. Just as she was truly getting into her thoughts, a voice broke her single-mindedness.

"Oh fuck."

That voice was a lot deeper than she remembered, and her head jolted to the side as she stared at what was the now much dapper looking Malfoy Heir.

Malfoy was now incredibly taller shocking for a freshly turned thirteen year old. A striking five foot nine if she had to guess, and it appeared he would just get taller meanwhile Hermione appeared to have reached her peak height last year stopping at a rather none impressive five foot three. His nose didn't look as pointed and wondered if he accomplished that, through puberty or if he did like she did with her teeth and cast a spell. Despite her parents' disapproval Hermione felt the risk was worth it and before she left Hogwarts for the summer cast the shrinking charm on her teeth.

She was sure Malfoy's family didn't have the same qualms about magic as her own muggle parents did.

His light almost white blonde hair was longer as well and she secretly hoped it wasn't another attempt to look more like his pompous father. The younger boy cleared his throat once more drawing Hermione from her thoughts.

"Granger might I have a word?"

He was nervous and his eyes gave away his insecurities and Hermione felt it rather than thought, something significant had happened to him over the summer for this fortuitous change in demeanor.

Still she couldn't help but mess with him a bit, "I think you said one already with your vast knowledge of execrating."

The blush that adorned his cheeks was very uncharacteristic of the boy and Hermione couldn't help but wonder what brought upon the change in the boy. So despite her answer the girl nodded her head in the affirmative and allowed him to lead her to what she realized was Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.

They had a seat at a private booth closer to the back of the shop and they were both filled with awkward silence until the waitress came over to take their order. The girl, Hermione recognized was a now seventh year Hufflepuff and was grateful despite her shocked yet curious eyes the blond haired girl did not question the Slytherin and the Gryffindor.

Hermione ever the Gryffindor broke the silence first.

"What's this about now Malfoy? I have to admit you're acting unusually atypical of your usual callous behavior. And apparently my curiosity outweighs my self perseverance."

Draco frowned at that surely shocked at his own conduct than her putting herself in harm's way.

"I have to admit these changes that I've experienced recently scare the bullocks out of me, Granger. I want to apologize for calling you that name last year. I was out of line."

He was no doubt referring to the Mudblood comment before she could question exactly what changed with him, he continued.

"I know it'll take more than just one little apology to prove my words, especially since Potter and Weasel will no doubt attempt to blemish my motives. And I can't lie and tell you they aren't anything but selfish, Granger." Her brow rose in confusion at his admittance but before she could ask he answered her unspoken question, "I never quite realized until you were petrified, but I missed you and your know it all ways in the classroom. And besides," he took this moment to look her up and down, the same look in her own familiar's eyes when he found a canary or rat to hunt was the same as the look in Malfoy's eyes and the fourteen year old felt a shiver run down her spine from the intensity of it., "You're little dorks might have missed it but I can with clarity assure you, I've noticed exactly how much of a girl you are."

With that Hermione found her cheeks hot to the touch and no doubt crimson in color. Malfoy dropped more than enough galleons onto the table to cover not only his ice cream and hers as well but leave and exceptionally big tip. And soon he was leaving her there to think of everything he'd just told her.

'There was no way in bloody hell. Surely Malfoy couldn't fancy her of all people.'

Hermione stood not too long after Draco and made her way back to Flourish and Blotts intent on looking into different subjects than Arithmancy before heading to Magical Menagerie for some more food for her half-kneazle companion.

Even Draco couldn't believe the nads he'd just grown. Normally he was quite confident in his own way. Not for Granger of all people though and not with flirting, he had far to many more pressing matters to deal with than girls. Except for now, now he'd make an exception for Granger.

As he thought back on the words he'd spoken to her he couldn't find fault in anything he'd said. Granger no Hermione was quite fit, and older. It was quite a lecherous young boy's dream to date someone like her. But he wanted more than just that thank to his inner Veela.

By the time he returned to his mother's side his hair had grown another inch and fangs and talons were now apart of his appearance. Narcissa narrowed her eyes as she looked upon the form of her son and scowled as every female that had hit puberty was eyeing her thirteen year old wizard.

"Draco whatever it is you are thinking, I must insist you stop."

And nothing like hearing your mother's voice to end the rather enticing thoughts of your perfect mate.

Narcissa didn't smile though she was quite satisfied to see whatever trance Draco inadvertently cast on most of the nearby witch population, it ended and the once witches with a staring problem shook themselves from their stupor and continued on their regular business.

"What was it that had you leaving the robe shop with such haste?"

Draco looked around before muttering quietly to where only his mother could hear, "My Veela has chosen what appears to be the perfect mate."

The boy was nervous though felt confident that his mother's love for Veela lore would outweigh her disapproval of anyone not a pureblood.

"Well who is she?" Narcissa quite didn't like being kept in suspense especially concerning matters as important as this. She noticed Draco look uneasy as he escorted her to the Leaky to floo the both of them home, Draco handed his mother the magical soot and just as she uttered Malfoy Manor and dropped it did Draco feel comfortable enough to tell her.

"My mate is Hermione Granger."

Preview Chapter 3

Narcissa was rarely shocked but her son telling her his perfect mate was the Granger girl well it caused the unnatural effect of stunning Narcissa quiet.

Draco clambered out of the fireplace a few moments after his mother and seated himself in the foyer and waited. It felt like an eternity but the Malfoy Matriarch finally entered the room and sat herself down before summoning a bottle of fire whiskey from her study.

Hermione had decided she would ignore Malfoy's words, surely it was merely a poorly formulated ploy to trick her somehow. Yet despite her decision his words rang in her head over and over again.

"You're little dorks might have missed it, but I can, with clarity assure you, I've noticed exactly how much of a girl you are."