Author's Note : I'm back people. I'm seriously absolutely so sorry for not updating. I have been very busy with studies and I was in New Zealand so I couldn't update. Well, as promised this is the 3rd chapter. I've made it extra long to make up for everything ;)
Chapter 3 – First name basis
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
"Malfoy?" Hermione walked around their common room. Where was he? They had to meet Dumbledore for a meeting before classes. Hermione was getting ready for bed when her owl, Roxy flew in with a note from Dumbledore. It had scared the life out of her. Dumbledore had of course requested their presence tomorrow morning.
"The name's Draco, Hermione." Draco appeared at his door in his long black pants and green Slytherin shirt. He was adjusting his tie, carefully. Hermione felt so weird when Draco said her name. She felt something flutter in the pit of her stomach. She immediately shrugged it off. She didn't want draco to think that she was secretly fantasizing about him.
"Whatever. We're late. Hurry up!"
"Be patient, Hermione. We still have time, you know." Hermione rolled her eyes. He could be such a prat sometimes. She thought to herself. Draco raised an eyebrow as he walked to his study desk.
"What? Draco, I don't want to be late!" Hermione picked up her bags. Draco sighed heavily and picked up his books following Hermione.
"Alright. Let's go." Draco offered his arm but Hermione declined.
"Since when were you a gentleman?" She asked, obviously surprised at his actions. Draco pretended to look hurt.
"Aww, Hermione. I'm crushed. I've always been one." Hermione bit back her laugh. The look on Draco's face was priceless but she knew he was just joking. "Slept well, last night?"
"Sort of." Hermione answered him, feeling distracted. Last night, she thought about a lot of things. Mostly of Ron. Everything made sense when she connected the stories but still she could not accept the fact that Ron had cheated on her with Lavender Brown. She smiled sadly. He was becoming distant and she noticed that Lavender always stammered when she was talking to her. They always seemed to disappear at the same time. She thought that they had been busy with the job they took up during the vacation at Flourish and Botts but in the end, she was proved wrong.
"Hermione, you okay?" Draco asked, concerned. She was surprised that Draco was suddenly so concerned over her. They were walking through the corridors of Hogwarts. Only a few people were bustling up and down. It was probably because everyone was having breakfast at the Great Hall.
"Yeah. I was just thinking about something. Don't worry bout me." She smiled and continued walking. It was really funny how much Draco Malfoy had changed. He was more caring but still the egoistic person she knew. What was even weirder was that they were acting civil to each other. Suddenly, someone came running down and knocked Hermione over. The person was wearing a long black cloak that covered from his head to toe and all she saw was emerald eyes.
"I'm so sorry." The person apologized and ran. Obviously, he was a guy. Hermione shrugged it off.
"Jerk. Here, let me help you Hermione." Draco brought her up to her feet, steadying her to the hard ground. Hermione thanked him. Who was he?
"Don't think about him, Hermione." Draco warned. So, did Draco know that guy? He sounded like he knew him. She wanted to ask draco but she had a feeling that Draco wouldn't tell her. he wouldn't even give her a hint. Hermione just nodded and they walked along. After a few minutes, they reached the tall statue.
"Earwax." Hermione muttered. The statue of a gargoyle turned revealing a hidden staircase. they walked up the long staircase together.
"He should really start choosing sensible passwords." Draco commented. Hermione laughed,
"You know how Dumbledore is. Leave him be." She playfully punched Draco.
"Ahh Ms Granger. Mr Malfoy. A very good morning to the both of you. I have been expecting you." Dumbledore smiled warmly as he motioned for them to have a seat. Draco and Hermione sat in front of him.
"Some beans?" Dumbledore asked. Draco shook his head.
"Erm, sure, professor. Thank you." Hermione said uncertainly. She hated eating beans because she always seemed to choose the wrong flavors but she certainly didn't want to hurt the old professor's feelings. She reached into the bowl and pulled out a red bean. Draco just smiled at her. She popped it into her mouth. Strawberry. Wow, that's a first. She thought.
"Now, let's get this started, shall we?" Dumbledore asked them. The both nodded. "Now, during the winter break I was thinking about having a ball, you know. I have invited Durmstrang to join us and naturally, they have accepted." Hermione cringed. That meant Viktor Krum would be there. "As the heads, I was hoping you would come up with a theme and prepare the ball." Dumbledore finished with a twinkle in his eye. Draco shifted uncomfortably. He hated big events as people always stared at him like he was a God or something. It was fine every once in awhile but lately it had really bugged the hell out of him.
"I know!" Hermione suddenly shouted breaking the silence.
"Finally thought of something, eh? Took you long enough, Hermione." Professor Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at Draco mentioning Hermione's name instead of his usual drawl of 'Granger'.
"I see both have you are acting civil to each other."
"Yes, we have decided to grow up and forget the past." Draco answered hurriedly. Hermione nearly laughed. Grow up and forget the past? Well, that was hilarious.
"That's excellent! You were saying Ms Granger?"
"Oh yes. I'm sorry. How about a Masquerade? We've never had one." Hermione suggested. Draco frowned. He knew what a Masquerade was but why would she want to have one? Wouldn't a normal Winter Wonderland suffice?
""Wonderful idea, Ms Granger!" Dumbledore praised her and patted her hand. Hermione blushed. It wasn't that she was trying to suck up. She loved getting praises and a praise from Dumbledore was like getting a million dollars. "Don't you agree, Mr Malfoy?" Both of them turned to look at him.
"Yes, it is wonderful." He agreed. Well, he didn't have a choice now did, he? Hermione smiled at him. Draco noticed that her hair was tied into a neat ponytail. Her hair wasn't frizzy anymore like it used to be. Instead, her hair was straight all the way and it curled at the end.
"Well, then, you may be dismissed now. Thank you for your time. Have a nice day!" Dumbledore greeted them as they left his room. As soon as the statue turned behind them, they heard Dumbledore chuckle. Draco and Hermione just shrugged at each other.
I suppose he's getting old, thought Hermione.
"What classes do you have today?" Hermione asked Draco. Draco looked at his schedule.
"Potions and Transfiguration with Hufflepuff, Charms with Ravenclaw and double Defence Against The Dark Arts with you." Hermione smiled. Everyone had been wondering who the new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher would be. Some said that it would be Remus Lupin again. And some others thought it would be Mad Eye Moody.
"Well, I have Ancient Runes and Potions with Ravenclaw, Charms and well, Defense Against The Dark Arts with you." Hermione said softly. Suddenly, she tripped over something hard. Draco quickly caught her in his arms. Hermione felt so warm in Draco's arms. She looked up at him. His face was just a fraction of an inch away. She stared into his eyes. For once, she noticed that his eyes were not completely green like she always thought it was. It was grey and the side was a bit green. She stared completely mesmerized. Draco just bore his eyes into her. She had the most enchanting smile and eyes he'd ever seen. She was so small that he was scared that if anything hit her, she would just fall and die.
"Ahem. I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" Hermione leaped out of Draco's arms and adjusted her crumpled skirt. Immediately Hermione missed the warmth she felt in Draco's arms but she brushed it away.
"No, I'm sorry. Draco just caught me. I tripped." Hermione explained. Blaise smiled and walked up to them, eyeing Draco carefully.
"Well, then. I have to escort you remember? My mother. Or else I'd get bad remarks." Blaise cringed. Draco felt his temper go up. Why couldn't Blaise leave her alone? Draco had caught Blaise staring at Hermione quite a few times during dinner last night and he didn't like the way he was staring at her, at all.
"I guess I'll see you later, Draco." Hermione said as she smiled and waved at him. Draco just waved back pathetically. Hermione was so full of life he, on the other hand, was just an empty shell. Weird, he thought as he walked to the dungeons.
"So, Gra-Hermione." Blaise corrected. "You have Ancient Runes now, right?" Hermione smiled. Blaise could be such a charmer. He had offered, no demanded that he carried her books.
"Yes, I do. You know, Blaise. You don't have to escort me to my class." Blaise frowned. He wanted to do it. Not only because of his mother.
"I want to do it, Hermione." He said softly. Hermione just nodded and walked in front of him happily.
"Well, we're here, Blaise. Thank you once again for accompanying me here." Blaise nodded.
"Don't mention it." He opened the door and for the third time in less than 2 days, she found people staring at her. She sighed. She looked up and saw Harry and Luna sitting together and Ron and Lavender sitting together. She looked around and saw an empty seat next to Cho Chang. She decided to sit there. After all, she didn't have a choice. Ron stared at her as walked past him. Lavender whacked him on the head with her book. Harry smiled sadly at her but she ignored it.
"So, you playing Draco behind his back With Blaise Zabini? And I though you were dating Ron Weasley? Oh right no, you aren't. He cheated on you with Lavender Brown." Cho Chang. Hermione rolled her eyes. For smart people, Ravenclaws could be so dumb.
"First of all, Cho Chang. I am not with Draco Malfoy." Hermione stressed the word not. Cho Chang was the biggest gossiper in all of Hogwarts. She did not want the rumors going around that She, Draco and Blaise were stuck in some love triangle. She had to admit that both of them were very attractive. Especially Blaise's Italian drawl. Very appealing. Draco, on the other hand, had that smirk. That impossibly irresistible smirk.
"Oh I see. You and Draco would've made such a scandal if it were true." Cho Chang said crushed. She was obviously upset. Time flew by pretty fast and soon it was already lunch. Hermione ran to the Great Hall, excited to sit with her friends but then she remembered the events that had happened recently and that they had chosen Lavender over her. She sighed as tears threatened to fall from her eyes and she walked to the Heads common room feeling dejected.
"Granger? My, my what a surprise to see you all alone. What happened the Golden Trio?" Hermione turned around to see Pansy Parkinson with a guy. He had emerald eyes and black spiky hair. His complexion was pale.
"Idiot Ron Weasley and I had a fight. He was cheating on me with Lavender Brown. I dumped him, ran away, unfortunately the house I knocked on was Blaise's and his mother asked him to look after me, at all times." I said hurriedly. "New student?" I asked, curious. "I've never seen you around." Hermione told the guy. He smirked, like Draco.
"The name's Zachary. Zachary Blaine. And yes, I'm a new student. You've met me earlier this morning." Hermione strained and tried to think. She always remembered faces. She would've remembered him. He was certainly very, very attractive as in Draco and Blaise attractive like. Then, it came back to her. A long cloak, the emerald eyes. It fitted perfectly. Hermione gasped.
"I see you've figured out who I am, then." Zachary smiled. "I apologize though. I did not mean to scare you. Pansy had abandoned me and I cared for her safety." Pansy snorted very unladylike.
"Puhlease, Zachary." Pansy turned to look at her. "Granger, he's my cousin. So, ignore him. He can be as egoistic and annoying as Draco."
"You must be the famous Hermione Granger. It's a pleasure to finally meet Hogwarts star student." He took her hand and kissed it. Hermione turned red.
"Erm, it's nice to meet you, too, Blaine." Hermione pulled her hand away. Zachary's hand was soft and warm against hers. Christ, Hermione swore. First, Draco, then, Blaise, now, this new kid. Oh that also happens to be pig faced Parkinson's cousin.
"My name's Zachary, Ms Granger." He corrected her. Pansy smiled at the scene that folded in front of her. If she could get these two together, Draco would forget about stupid Granger.
"Call me Hermione, I insist." He nodded and bowed gracefully.
"Well, I should leave both of you alone to get more acquainted." Pansy said as she laughed and walked away.
"I don't know what to say." Hermione admitted to Zachary. He smirked.
"Say anything you like, then. You obviously love reading. I know that but I'm sure there's another side of you. A side that knows of fun and being wild." Zachary drawled out. Hermione was shocked. She had to admit that this guy actually could understand her.
"You're right, Zachary. There is another side of me. What house are you in?"
"Slytherin. Apparently, I'm a self centered jerk and a sly fox." Hermione laughed.
"I'm sure that's not entirely true. You sound pretty nice and decent. I don't think you're a self centered jerk, well, not yet." Zachary smiled. He had to admit that this girl was very attractive and smart.
"Would you like to have lunch with me, Hermione?" He asked her. She nodded happily. She didn't have anyone to have lunch with. Besides, she couldn't find Blaise and Draco.
"Perfect. I have some food with me. I can share." Zachary said as they walked up the staircase to the balcony.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Draco's POV
"Where is she?" I screamed at Blaise. Blaise moved away from me, obviously scared.
"I told you, Draco. I don't know. I thought she was with you." Blaise shouted back. The Great Hall became quiet ass everyone watched the action playing out in front of them. The hundreds of occupants were staring at both of them like they were a movie.
"How could you have lost her, you idiot?" I said frustratedly and banged the table. How could I lose her? I saw her just a few minutes earlier. She smiled at me as she walked past me. Surely she couldn't have come to any harm now that the war was over. At this point, I couldn't care less about everyone else.
"Mr Malfoy. Would you please try to relax?" Professor Dumbledore said approaching me. I tried to. I really did try my best.
"I can't. Not when she has mysteriously disappeared." I bit out. Blaise put an arm around me. I glared at him. The stupid idiot was the cause of all of this.
"Mr Malfoy, don't worry. Someone has already told me that she had seen Ms Granger with a new student." Immediately I felt better but I was angry at her. I was angry that she didn't even inform me of where her whereabouts were.
"Dra, you alright? I could here you shouting from the other side of the castle." Pansy jokingly said as she ran her hands along my back, slowly.
"I lost Hermione. No, actually Blaise lost her." I sat down, feeling so defeated. Blaise went out, still scared of me. Pansy sat beside me. I closed my eyes.
"I informed Dumbledore of her whereabouts already." Pansy assured me. My eyes snapped open. Pansy saw Hermione?
"Where is she? I left my work with her. It's important." I lied to her. I felt guilty. Pansy was kind of a nice girl. She came from a weird family, though.
"At the top balcony." She said automatically. I slapped a hand to my forehead. Why didn't I think of checking there? I felt like such an idiot.
"I'll be back. Thanks Pans." I kissed her cheek and ran out of the Great Hall and up millions of staircases. Finally, I reached the top. I stopped to regain my breath and heard someone laugh. I listened closely.
"And she ran, screaming and shouting for water. It was hilarious." I frowned. It was a guy's voice. It sounded pretty darn familiar and Hermione was laughing. I burst open the door and Hermione and the guy turned to look at me. Zachary Blaine. Figures.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Hermione's POV
"Zack." I heard Draco say dangerously at Zachary as he approached us.
"Draco. Wonderful to see you again ever since you-know-when." Zachary said brightly. Personally, I thought that Zachary was trying to get himself killed. No one would speak to Draco like that unless they had a death wish.
"Draco, please. Calm down." I took a step forward but Draco cut me off.
"You!" He pointed at me. "Blaise and I have been looking for you throughout the whole school and you didn't inform us?" Draco shouted angrily at me. I felt my temper rising. Who did he think he is?
"Hermione was with me. You have no right to shout at her. It was my fault. I invited her here." Zachary protected me.
"You don't have to protect me, Zack. Draco, I'm sorry. I tried looking for both of you but I couldn't find you. I'm sorry alright." I threw my hands up frustrated.
"I forgive you this time, Hermione. Come on, we have Defense Against The Dark Arts now." Draco pulled me. I only had time to mouth a thank you and wave at Zachary.
"Are you going to say something, Draco?" I asked. He looked at me.
"Well, I'm sorry I overreacted. Be careful when you're around him, alright? C'mon I don't wanna be late for our first class." He smiled warmly. I smiled back. He was obviously trying to change the subject. When we reached there, there were only two seats and they were at the back. I sighed as Draco pulled me to the back with him.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
"I see you've found her." Blaise said, obviously relieved.
"I found her with Zachary Blaine." Draco said. He was still upset about it. Hermione was still staring at her surroundings. The room was different. It was darker than it used to be. Her gaze dropped at Ron's hand in Lavender's. Tears pricked the back of her eyes.
"Don't worry bout them, Mione. I bet they'd get in trouble pretty soon." Draco whispered into her here. It sent shivers down her spine. That's when everyone heard the click-clacking of something.
Click clack click clack click clack click clack
Something about that sound, sounded damn bloody familiar, Draco thought. Hermione frowned. The sound continued. The door suddenly opened revealing the new teacher.
"Oh My God!" Draco and Hermione shouted simultaneously.
Author's Note :
DangDangDang. ( dramatic music playing in the background )
Well, who could it be? Maybe Dumbledore took it upon himself to teach them. Whatever it is, you'll find out pretty soon. Read on, my dear friends.