(Hello again, look I am so sorry...I had testing for three weeks and then I had lots of last minute homework *rolls eyes* I've been too busy and tired to do any writing at all, besides a snatch that probably doesn't even sound good because I wrote it while I was cleaning my room. Anyway, recap…
"Password?"
"Fork." He said, rolling his eyes at the idiocy of the password. Honestly, how does one think 'Slytherin password' and immediately see a fork? He asked himself for what seemed like the thousandth time. He paused as he saw the sad, stressed, and gaunt figure in the fire instead of himself. A few moments later, he realized it was him. He'd changed, and all because of one thing.
I'll be fine. He repeated to himself over and over. Some part of his brain, the pessimistic side, was telling him No I won't. What I need to happen never will. I'll stay this way forever. He sighed and shook his head at his annoying thoughts, deciding that he needed some rest.
He walked into the boys dorm and fell onto his bed, too tired to even change out of his school clothes. The second his head hit the pillow he was out.
On with the story!
Chapter 3: Ms Granger and Mr Malfoy will be Working Together
Hermione sighed as she sat up in her bed, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She always woke up earlier than everyone else, to be able to shower without rushing because Lavender hogged it for the duration of the morning. She groaned as she dragged her feet all the way to the washroom and turned on the shower.
As she walked down to the Great Hall, fully cleaned and feeling much more awake, she realized that she had still looked...well shitty when she'd looked at herself in the mirror. She shook her head, entering the hall to get some breakfast. Much to her surprise, she wasn't the first one there. Malfoy had gotten here first, which was strange, considering he was usually one of the last. I hope he hasn't come to continue our argument from earlier, I'm too tired of him to deal with his shit.
"Well, hello, Granger. I know I'm pretty, but you do know it's rude to stare, right?" His voice sounded in her ears, and she naturally was startled.
"I wasn't looking at you, Malfoy, I was looking at the…" her explanation was cut off by a chuckle.
"The wall behind me?" Malfoy asked, sniggering. "Honestly, Granger, get over your pride. You were staring at me." He shook his head, obviously trying to keep control over his laughter. Did he just...smile? Like, genuinely smile?
"I was not staring at you, because I wasn't staring at anything!" Hermione defended herself, crossing her arms.
"Really, lost in thought then, eh?" He snorted. "I doubt that, Granger."
"You are so..!" She started, then sighed. "Not worth my time." She finished her sentence with a roll of her eyes. She had been about to argue back, but all she really wanted to do was eat her breakfast in peace.
To her annoyance, she could still hear him chuckling as she sat down and started to spoon some fruit onto her plate. He really does not know when to stop, does he? Suddenly, she felt his presence next to her. She continued to nibble on her fruit, pretending he didn't exist, but he was by no means fond of this.
"Granger you can't ignore me forever, we have to make potions today." He stated, trying to turn her head toward him. She smacked his hand away.
"So? Why does it matter?"
"Well, Dumbledore has been going on about house unity, you know Gryffindors will be paired with Slytherins."
She rolled her eyes, "Again, so?"
He sighed, "You know, for the smartest witch of our year, you really are slow. You are the only Muggleborn in our potions class."
She finally turned to face him, "I know that you self entitled ferret! I could be paired with any Slytherin so it doesn't matter! Leave me alone!" Hermione sighed in exasperation and went to turn away, only to be stopped by his hand resting on her shoulder to get her attention again.
"No need to get frustrated, Granger. Let me get more than two sentences out before you go getting mad at me?" His voice, though it's usual sarcastic self, had a hint of pleading in it. She immediately turned to face him with one eyebrow raised questioningly, gently brushing his hand off her shoulder.
"Fine then, but I wouldn't go saying anything to purposely annoy me."
"Thank you," he smirked. "Now, as I was saying. You are the only Muggleborn in our class, and what am I known for? Hating anyone that would be considered 'below me' by blood standard. What better choice for helping house unity than putting us two together?" He started, earning an annoyed snort out of her.
"On top of that, Snape happens to be very fond of torturing his students by any means possible. He knows that we hate each other, and will probably use that to his advantage," he paused, studying her face, which had not changed from the questioning and annoyed expression. "Also, Granger, there might have been a request to Snape from Dumbledore saying to put us together. I might have heard it going to ask to borrow another potions book for Theo.."
"K, well, I'll believe that when the words 'Ms Granger and Mr Malfoy will be working together'. Now run off to your own table, before an eagle comes and swoops you up." She snapped, but when she looked at him out of the corner of her eyes, she could clearly see that he looked slightly less like he felt like shit after their usual banter. Hmmm I wonder what that's all about? Whatever.
A few minutes later, she was acutely aware of Alex sitting down next to her, and Harry sitting in front of her with Ginny by his side. Lavender and Ron were not there yet, which made her kind of annoyed. Honestly, how do they think now is the best time to snog in an abandoned classroom? Seamus sat down on her other side, Dean at his side.
"Did Ron wake up this morning?" She asked, figuring it would be better to get truth before assuming things.
"He sure did." Seamus said, sounding more cheerful than usual. She rolled her eyes, now eating toast with jam.
Draco half wished that he had not even approached the Gryffindor Princess before his day started, and shot halfhearted glares at her for the duration of breakfast. I need to get a life, fast. Heh, oh wait, can't… He groaned inwardly at the thought of this thing consuming his life. To his right, he could hear Blaise and a couple of girls laughing at a joke he'd just told. To his left, though, sat a strangely silent Theo.
"Something wrong?" He asked his friend, but immediately regretting it. He knew he didn't sound as happy as usual, not that ever sounded happy necessarily, but he certainly never sounded sad.
"Yeah, but I'm honestly more worried about you, Draco. What's going on?"
"I…" He sighed, not even bothering to finish his sentence. He was too...tired. He just wanted this to be done; this year, this day, this month, this week, this...thing. Theo patted him on the back.
"You'll be fine, Draco. Eat something."
"Nah, I should be getting to Potions, I'll eat later." He responded, standing up and leaving the Great Hall. He could feel Theo looking after him worriedly, but he didn't care, he would eat later. That was a promise.
Hermione sat in her seat, glancing up as she heard the door open. Malfoy she thought absent mindedly. She sat quietly in her seat, and she was in fact paired with Malfoy.
Snape had said the exact words, "Ms Granger and Mr Malfoy will be working together." She had been peeved by this, but he was relatively calm. There were only a couple, "No, Granger, that's wrong." There was honestly a lot more of him "accidentally" bumping into her. In fact, the entire day passed by rather uneventfully. Including, thanks to whatever entity lived above, dinner. She could at least be thankful for that, right? Right.
Draco sighed in relief the second he left the classroom. I'm not sure how much more I could take, being so close to her and holding my tongue. I was about to spill my every thought about her out… The rest of the day turned out uneventful, which he could only be grateful for. He didn't have to deal with a single thing after that Potions class, not a thing.
(Heh, you likey? Anyway, I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. It's 10 and I'm currently writing this, well more like 10:10, so please excuse me if some of this seems stupid and pointless. On that note, do you have any idea where this story is going? 'Cause I don't! Heh heh, well I kinda do. I did a roleplay and that's what I'm basing this off of, but the roleplay never had a proper finish..?
Well, see ya next time! Have a good day and get some sleep tonight! Remember to stay safe, and don't do anything to get yourself hurt. Please, I don't want any human being to get hurt if they don't {or do} deserve it! Bai ~ Ravenleaf)