A/N: Woah. It's been a LONG time since I last updated this story.. Sorry about that. Well, here it is. Chapter 3. Enjoy!:)
Disclaimer: The only thing I own in this story is the plot. The rest belongs to J.K. Rowling.
A week has passed and everybody seemed to have moved on, fast... Especially Ron and Harry. They were back to their normal selves where they don't fuss over Hermione most of the time. She was currently in the library finishing up her homework for Ancient due next week. She spent most of her time there and since the two boys weren't partial to the library, they just leave her be. Unlike before, she wasn't completely oblivious to this which made her upset. She now noticed how she gets neglected by her two best friends. If only Malfoy never said that to her face, she wouldn't be completely aware and wouldn't even notice it.
Malfoy.
The Astronomy tower.
Turkey sandwiched haphazardly wrapped with a table napkin.
Peace offering.
That was really unexpected. If she wasn't engrossed with homework or thinking about her best friends, she would find herself thinking of that night. Draco Malfoy, arrogant, pure-blooded prick brought her a turkey sandwich. It was a peace offering. How would he know that she missed dinner that time? Was he really looking for her? Did he really notice her absence? It was all too weird to have Draco Malfoy looking for her. But she couldn't help but smile at that thought. He was the one who proclaimed that nobody wanted, thus cared for her, but he was the one who looked for her and brought her a turkey sandwich.
Yes, it was a peace offering. But couldn't he think of other peace offerings to offer her aside from food when she's hungry? One would really think that he wasn't just sorry, but he actually cared. Ridiculous. That's why she laughed at him. Despite her harbored dislike for the boy, she felt bad for laughing at him. She knows just how hard it was for him to be able to be sorry. He was Draco Malfoy for crying out tears! And considering what he did for her, that must have taken a lot of self-persuasion and pride-swallowing.
It actually relieved her that he was sorry. At least now she knows he has compassion. You wouldn't expect that from him if you would look at who and what raised him. A mother whose life is in the cruel hands of a man who is gravely blinded by prejudice and irrational traditions. Lucius Malfoy was a sick man who only values blood, money and status, who ruled with an iron fist. He would resolve to physical abuse when crossed, no exceptions.
It's knowing this that has stopped Hermione from being baited by Malfoy since their 4th year at Hogwarts. Until that faithful afternoon in the second floor corridor that is. She would always think about how his life is probably like. She didn't pity him, no. She was just sorry that he grew up with the wrong people. There's a difference.
She was suddenly pried from her thoughts when she heard the library door creek open and close. She was at a table hidden within the bookshelves. It was her personal sanctuary since only a few students would venture deep into the maze of bookshelves. Time would often fly when she was there. It was only when she heard the door that she looked at her pocket watch. Dinner was almost over. She sighed, having missed dinner unintentionally again.
Since she already missed dinner, she decided to finish up her homework and get back to the common room to catch up with her friends. She heard a faint mumbling approach when she was just laying a fresh roll of parchment to write her translations for Ancient Runes. Looking up from the table, she saw a head bobbing in between aisles. She would have ignored it if it weren't a head with platinum-blonde hair. She suddenly felt a singe of happiness. He had been ignoring her since that night. Well, you couldn't really blame seeing as he lowered himself that night. She furrowed her brows together. Why would should she feel happy that it's head bobbing in between the aisles and approaching her? Things are getting really weird for her.
Just before he reached her table, she looked down and started writing, pretending to be oblivious of his presence. It was only after a few minutes passed that she noticed the silence. She looked up and saw him leaning on one of the shelves and was just looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face. He seemed to be waiting to be acknowledged. Sighing, she set her quill down and put her hands together before setting her eyes on him.
"Yes?"
She was right, he was waiting to be acknowledged. It was only when she talked that he moved towards the table and sat across from her. He dropped his bag on the floor and made himself comfortable, placing both his feet up on the table.
"If you're doing this just to get me to make you another sandwich, you're very much wrong." He said flatly.
"What are you talking about?"
"You missed dinner again. And I'm seriously considering that you're doing this on purpose to get to me. Well, guess what. It's not. I just wanted to set your delusional self straight." He drawled, sounding very irritated.
What in the world? Why was he acting like this towards her? Why would he think that she misses dinner to get to him? To say she was stunned is an understatement.
"Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy. But I didn't miss dinner on purpose. I happen to have homework to do and didn't notice the time."
"Well, don't do that much homework. Everybody knows you already did your homework for next week. So why not slack off a bit and do next next week's homework after dinner?"
"Wait a minute. How did you know I missed dinner again?"
"You're annoying bushy hair could not be seen in the great hall, thus I have nothing to keep me from eating a good dinner."
"Were you watching out for me?" She asked with great disbelief.
"No. Your big bushy head isn't exactly hard to miss. Somebody would know when your stomach-churning presence isn't present."
"Oh, just cut it out with your insults. You know very much that that kind does not get to me anymore."
He raised his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. I'm guilty that you're still missing dinner because of last time." He kept his head bent down, refusing to show the pink he knew reached his cheeks. This is madness! Malfoys don't blush.
She laughed at him, again!
"Don't you have any decency? Can you be polite and not laugh at someone who is plagued with guilt? And considering that someone is me?" He was getting angry now.
She gradually stopped her laugh until it was noting more than a light chuckle. Her eyes were a little watery and her cheeks flushed. He couldn't help but stare at how she looked at that moment. Happy. He felt a pang of jealousy then. Why can't he be happy her kind of happy? Maybe it's a Gryffindor thing. Bloody Gryffindors.
"I'm sorry. But it's just funny. Even when you're sorry, you're still conceited. Only with a Malfoy, I guess. How do you relate my missing dinner to yourself? It happened once, but I'm over it. You should have realized that when I thanked you. After I ate the sandwich you made me and not die, I guess I forgave you then. So, there's no need for you to feel guilty anymore." She let out a small smile and went back to her homework, indicating the end of their conversation. She heard him sigh and put his feet back to the ground. Looking up a bit, she saw that he bent down. Probably to grab his bag and leave. She went back to her work and found comfort with the sudden silence that accompanied her. But it was disturbed when she heard something drop on the table. She looked up and he was still sitting across her, a few of his books laid out on the table. He bent down to his bag to grab his ink, quill and parchment.
"What are you doing?" She asked incredulously. He was gonna sit with her and do his homework. He can't be serious?
"Merlin, Granger. That's the second time you've asked me a stupid question. What does it look like I'm doing?" He waved his quill in the air for emphasis.
"But, why here? There are other tables in the library."
"I'm too lazy to move. Besides... I could just peek at your homework and copy your answers." He laughed after he said that. Her eyes grew wide for a fraction of a second. Holy mother of Merlin, did Draco Malfoy just tease her? Unsure of what to do with that, she laughed albeit nervously and went back to her work. She decided on focusing on finishing her translation to get rid of the awkwardness between them.
After an hour or so, the awkward atmosphere turned to a relaxing one. Malfoy was as concentrated with his homework as she was which was pleasant. No talking happened really. The silence was starting to be comfortable for both of them and they were satisfied. In a way, it gave Hermione a sense of hope. It seemed that Draco Malfoy was changing. Or maybe he was always like this. It was a little alarming, but fine nonetheless. She could very well get used to this.
Without looking up, she saw that he bent over his bag to take something out. Maybe another roll of parchment. Imagine her surprise when she smelled the faint aroma of chicken and gravy. Her stomach grumbled and he chuckled. He must have heard.
"Here." She looked up and he was smirking at her while holding out a sandwich wrapped finely with a table napkin. "It's chicken with a little bit of gravy. But I didn't need to tell you that. I bet you already knew."
She smiled and reached for the sandwich. After this, he gathered all of his things. He decided to retire for the night. He actually finished his homework for a while, but didn't want to leave the pleasant atmosphere they had yet. It was only when he got bored that he decided to leave. But of course, before leaving, he had to give her the sandwich he made. Just like the other night, it was a peace offering since he thought that it was still because of him that she's missing dinner. Not that he cared, he just noticed. That's what he tells himself.
"Thank you, Malfoy." He looked over at her as he stood up and slung his bag on his shoulder. She had a pretty shy smile on her face. He felt a tug on his lips but stopped himself before it formed into a smile. Composing himself in a snap, his face was expressionless as he looked at her. He nodded.
"Don't miss dinner anymore."
Before she could say anything, he left. The statement was more of a command than a request that she got a little annoyed. But the fact still remains... He doesn't want her to miss dinner anymore.
Drop me a review, lovelies!:*
