Not Giving Up But Going Down

His first class of the day was Charms, one of the few classes he didn't share with the Gryffindors. But still all he could do was think about Hermione. He played the scene from earlier on over and over again in his mind. He saw her hair, her flaming eyes, and her sensual lips. Too soon the class was over, and he headed off to the next. Potions.

Now, Potions was a class he liked, and always had liked. Many thought he was only good at it, because Professor Snape had favoured him, but his standards hadn't fallen when Professor Slughorn arrived. But that wasn't the only reason he enjoyed the subject. He liked it now more than before, since this was the class where he discovered Hermione Granger's true self, and here he could always watch her.

When he entered the classroom he quickly saw that he was the only one present. He must have been walking faster than intended, consumed in thoughts of how to get Hermione on her own. He still had no solution. Sighing he sat down at a desk in the back of the room. Slowly the room started to fill up with talking people, but Draco noticed none of these. All he saw was Hermione Granger as she entered the room with her two moron friends.

When he first saw her, he felt his body tensing, his heart beating stronger and his breath quicken. He was surprised to see her scanning the room and lock her eyes on him. A desperate thought came to him; 'Has she accepted my apology?' but the thought disappeared as fast as it had come when she curled her upper lip in disgust and turned away. His heart sank deep into his stomach. No, she hadn't forgiven him. More likely, she had thought that him apologizing was just an act to get to her. He didn't hold it against her; if their roles had been reversed he would have thought the same thing. At that moment Slughorn entered and the class started. But Draco's thoughts were nowhere near Potions. They all revolved around Hermione.

Too soon the class was over and students were rushing to the Great Hall for lunch. Draco got to his feet and got ready to go, when he realized that Hermione was still in the room with Potter and Weasley. Without a sound, he walked to a dark corner and hid, not even knowing why. From his corner he could see and hear the three friends talking.

"Hermione, you have too many books," Potter said. Hermione's only reply was a shy smile and then she continued packing her bulging bag.

"Sure you don't want our help with that?" Weasley said with a raised eyebrow. Hermione shook her head, brown curls flowing around her angelic face.

"No, you guys," she answered. "Why don't you just go ahead and save me a seat for lunch?"

The guys exchanged a worried look.

"Sure?" Potter asked her.

"Boys, really just think about it," she said and Draco sensed the teaching tone "if you stay here with me, we won't get any lunch. But if you go ahead without me, you can save me a seat and we all get something."

Potter and Weasley didn't answer her; they just laughed and left her alone. For a few seconds Draco just watched her trying to fit all her books in her tiny bag. But then she dropped a book on her foot and started cursing aloud. The words coming out of her mouth were unlike anything Draco had ever thought she would be able to say. He couldn't help himself. He laughed at her, not the mocking laugh he would usually use but a sweet and tender laugh that startled the cursing girl. She spun around and when she saw him standing in the dark her eyes narrowed.

"I might have known," she said angrily and picked up the book before she returned to pack the bag once more.

Draco moved out of the shadows and went to stand besides her.

"You never accepted my apology," he said. As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew he had said the wrong words. He still sounded like the old, arrogant Malfoy.

"Why should I?" Hermione asked. "Even if you meant it, it would take much more for me to forgive you for all you've done to myself and my friends."

"I'm willing to do all those things," he said, noticing the plea in his voice, but he didn't care. He meant every word and he wanted her to believe him.

For the shortest moment he saw curiosity in her eyes, but before he could be sure of what he really saw, she was back to hating him.

"I only ask one thing of you," she said through clenched teeth. "Go to Hell."

Then she took her bag and began walking out the door. He couldn't let her leave on that note, not like that. He walked after her.

"Fine," he said "should I bring you a souvenir?"

She laughed, but not a humorous laugh, it was the mocking one he knew from himself.

"I'd rather if you just stayed in Hell," she answered. "That would be the best present."

She sped up, even though she didn't have to. Draco wasn't trying to follow her any longer. Her words had hit him like a goblin hits a thief. Suddenly his appetite had disappeared. It didn't take him many seconds to decide to drop lunch and possibly also the last classes of the day.

Thanks to all who have made this story a favourite and myself a favourite author. Reviews are greatly appreciated, no matter what you would like to say about the story, my writing or the plot. Suggestions are also appreciated, if you feel you can contribute with anything to make this story or my writing better.