"If you don't try, there's no opportunity to succeed." ~Katie Lime
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Draco wasn't sure what he had done to upset the higher ups of the Auror division to be so cruel as to pair him with Hermione fucking Granger, but he must of royally pissed off the gods to have to endure a whole day of training with Potter every blasted Friday.
What in the bloody hell did he do? (Ok, well besides follow Voldemort and almost kill the most beloved mentor to date.) That was besides point really, he had atoned for his mistakes, donating almost all his inheritance to the Victims of War, serving his pitiful house arrest with no fuss, and then there wasn't a day that went by where he didn't feel the guilt try and eat him alive for his idiotic actions. On paper he had made amends, but for Draco, day to day was still a struggle.
He tried and keep his calm outer composure as he walked beside Granger to the back of the department to meet the sodding boy who lived. As he was much over the bullying stage of his life, he still didn't cozy up to the idea of being thrown into a room with two parts of Golden Trio for a whole fucking day. He didn't want to admit to himself, much less anyone else, that it was because he didn't want to feel their hatred for him, or possibly if he were a decent bloke in school then maybe they all could of been...friends? No, probably not, but maybe it wouldn't feel like the tension in the room would choke him where he stood.
Though, he couldn't deny the fact that Granger had a special way to annoy the ever living shite out of him, but for reasons that were lost on him, he...liked their sparing arguments and witty retorts to one another. Did that make him bloody mad? Probably.
He glanced at Granger, causing him to smirk since she looked as if she were reflecting the panic that he kept clamped down inside as she kept fiddling with the hem of her muggle shirt, it was a simple black long-sleeved fabric that cut to a V in the front. It showed her curves nicely…
Wait. What? Why bloody hell did he even care if she had curves, even though it was hard to deny that the witch had filled out nicely since school. It did him no favors that they were required to wear tightly fit muggle clothing for their trainings. So really, his noticing was none of his fault. He chalked it up to he was man, and men tended to notice attractive women.
When they had finally reached the intimidating wooden door, they both stopped without saying a word. A tinge of familiarity tugged at him, but the pure dread he was feeling quickly overpowered it.
A creak he could only compare to a Kneazle's last dying cry echoed around them both as the large door swung open to a vast open room that smelled of rubber and lemon. Without noticing his feet shuffle forward, they both had come to stand in the oversized, dimly, and almost empty room. The only thing that occupied the space clung at the walls with what looked like to be varying objects of weapons and large tools, (must be the rubber smell he thought) he turned back towards the door and it had vanished! He gave a panicked expression to his partner who looked eerily calm. Probably because she had figured out what this god forsaken room was. Know it all, he wanted desperately to mutter.
Bloody perfect, just what he needed, let's just add being locked into a torture room with someone who couldn't stand him to the endless list of 'what else can go wrong in Draco Malfoy's life.' One wrong word and she would likely shove one of those spiked contraptions up his arse.
"I've worked here for nearly two years and I don't believe I have ever been in this room." The bushy haired witch mused to no one in particular.
He looked quickly around and found no sign that Potter was anywhere to be seen.
His steel eyes settled on Granger who looked a little green, he would of found her state amusing if it didn't irk him to no end that she was so nervous.
"What in the bloody hell could you possibly be worried about?" He scoffed.
Her face became animated with irritation as the deep brown irises of her eyes bore into him.
"Because…" She inhaled, and if he wasn't mistaken a wave of sadness took over her features for a moment. "You know, just forget it."
Brushing the small pang of guilt aside he felt for making her upset, he squared his shoulders and didn't break her eye contact. If they were both locked in this blasted room, why not have some fun?
"Oh," he drawled, moving so he could circle her figure. "You're nervous I will be better at dueling than you." That did it, the fiery brunette seemed to turn up her scowl. If looks could cast spells, he was certain he would be dead on the floor.
"Not even a little." She bit out, not bothering to follow his movements.
'Brilliant.' He thought, quickly removing his wand and sending a small stinging hex towards her, landing directly on her arse. He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips when she yelped and spun around to face him. His laughter quickly died when he noticed her wand in her hand.
She advanced towards him, with a look of pure determination across her features.
"I can't decide if I want to hex you, or punch you in the face again." Draco swallowed hard when she was almost nose to nose with him, causing his gut reaction to kick in. He grabbed her arm, (the one with the dangerous wand being pointed at him) and pulled her closer to him so she couldn't retract her fist and hit him. The abruptness of the movement must of took her off guard because it was like her feet didn't know how to keep up, she tripped and landed hard into his chest, making them both stumble backwards to the ground. Draco's breath was knocked out of him as she landed on top of him. Before they could both scramble to their feet, the door that had disappeared came into view, letting in a very frustrated looking Potter and head Auror Taylor in.
Of all the sodding luck. Hermione figured they both looked like a deer caught in headlights
"Bugger." They both muttered.
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A/N: Hope you all enjoyed. Please let me know your thoughts! ~Enchanted21
