"Malfoy. Malfoy! MALFOY!" Hermione shouted as she ran to catch up to Draco.
"What?" He said indifferently, He glanced quickly at her and was amused by her confused expression. She just stood there and stared at him. "What?" He repeated, this time with slight annoyance.
"Why are you… what are you up to?"
"Excuse me? What makes you think I'm up to something?"
"In potions you were acting decent, but a few seconds ago you where treating me like shit again! And just now I cursed you and all you did was… smirk at me! You even offered to help me!" Hermione said frustrated. "I don't get it!"
"Something Granger can't understand? I'm shocked. And here I thought you knew everything." He gave her an evil grin. "Oh right, about that curse…" Malfoy pulled out his wand and put a silencing charm on Hermione. "That should make this experience a lot more pleasant."
MALFOY! She silently mouthed at him, unable to speak; horrified that she let him get the best of her.
"What better way to punish a know-it-all than by not letting her speak?" He smiled at his own ingeniousness. Trust me, this is for your own good. "Personally Hermione, I have nothing against you." She raised an eyebrow and looked at him disbelievingly. "Just your choice in acquaintances, your 'unfortunate' ancestry, you personality, your appearance-" Hermione had smacked him behind the head in an attempt to shut him up. "-but besides that I'm quite indifferent to your entire existence."
What the hell is that supposed to mean?!? Hermione, unable to respond. She continued walking, a few steps behind him, contemplating what he had said. The air grew steadily colder and they furthered deeper into the dark, dank, depths of the castle's dungeons. I guess… it could be his way of saying that his problem isn't with me, but with Harry? So he only really acts like an ass when he's around… Hermione sighed in exasperation, breathing in the cold. It's twisted enough; I wouldn't put it past him. But he also said he basically hates everything about me. I give up… it's Malfoy anyways. Who really cares what he thinks about me? But despite how she tried to forget it or deny it, he continued to plague her thoughts. He's an ass! I don't care what he thinks of me! He does have a nice ass…
"Granger!"
Hermione looked up and stared mutely at Draco. Turning slightly pink. I didn't just think that…
"I said we're here! Just because you can't speak doesn't mean you can stop listening. What were you staring at anyways?"
At this, Hermione turned a deep shade of red, and refused to face Draco. But even through the bushy hair that obstructed his view of her face, he could tell she was blushing furiously. At least she has good taste… Draco stepped closer to Hermione, leaning towards her, he whispered, "domination". Hermione stared at him wide eyed, completely lost. Draco walked past her, and she realized that the wall behind her had suddenly obtained a large, elaborately decorated doorway. A silver snake decorated the doorframe, its emerald eyes gleaming in the dim light of the dungeons appearing almost alive with a burning green fire.
Snakes. How original. But as she passed underneath them, she couldn't help but marvel in the eerie beauty they held. This is it, she thought as Draco reached out to open the heavy doors, I can do this. She held her breath in anticipation and worry. She prepared herself to face a common full of angry Slytherins ready to kill her. But as she stepped through the doorway and her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, she realized that it was completely empty.
Where is everyone? She mouthed silently to Draco. He smirked.
"This is a secret entrance, Granger. No one uses this room but me. The benefits of an extensive Slytherin heritage." Draco muttered a spell and the room came alive with light, and Hermione could finally admire the splendor of the room. It was small, but filled with beautiful and rare objects that Hermione had never seen, or even read about. She was intrigued.
Wow. She breathed silently, taking in the view. She noticed a large and rather well supplied bookcase and moved towards it, examining its ancient contents. Draco sniggered at her expression of awe. I figured as much. Draco thought, staring at her. I knew she'd like it here.
"Even the restricted section in the library won't have books like these. Try not to sully them, mudblood." Draco waited for her reaction with an arrogant smirk, but received none. She had removed one of the oldest, largest, dustiest, leather bound books and had begun to read it fervently, flipping through the pages absorbed in their ancient contents. "Did you hear me mudblood? I said try not to contaminate them. Granger!" If there was one thing Draco didn't like, it was being ignored. And at this moment, Hermione was about as interested in his presence as she would be with a dirty old rag. He glared at her, trying to decide how best to get her attention and simultaneously annoy her.
Draco had decided. He causally pulled his wand out of his robes and quietly muttered a charm; not that he needed to be discreet in anyway, Hermione wouldn't have noticed it if he was screaming spells while running around naked. Well, she might have noticed the latter part. Hermione flinched, surprised by the fact that the book she had been absorbed in suddenly snapped shut and refused to reopen for her. Despite how she tried to pry it apart, it would not submit. It was then that she realized that Draco was sniggering behind her.
I was reading that! She silently screamed at Draco, clutching the book to her chest protectively. You shouldn't treat books so poorly! Even though she was unable to actually say anything, Draco was able to get the drift, and was couldn't to stop laughing. Stop laughing!! She demanded, getting more and more frustrated by her inability to speak.
"Granger! You should see your face, it's priceless! A know-it-all unable to speak or read! You might as well be dead!" Draco stopped laughing, as was suddenly serious. He observed the anxious and frightened girl standing in front of him, still clutching her book. His lips curled up at the edges and he gave her an evil grin. "A fate we've postponed long enough." He managed to free the book from her iron grip. "If you ever want to see this again you'll do as I say, got it?" He said teasingly, but had to suppress a laugh when she nodded seriously. He knew she was a bookworm, but to actually agree to his terms so she could read a book? This was more than he expected.
You should be grateful, Granger. You have no idea what I'm doing for you. Draco thought as he gave Hermione a mischievous smirk.
"Come, Granger. It's time to meet your fate."
Hermione mentally prepared herself while Draco replaced the leather bound book back on the shelf with its companions.
"This way." Draco motioned towards a large painting of a rather young man, who resembled an older version of Draco. Hermione observed this similarity with intrigue; she thought for a moment that it could be a young Lucious, but knew she was wrong the moment the portrait spoke.
"Draco, a muggle-born? I'm surprised." It teased. Hermione couldn't even imagine Draco's father to speak in such a chiding, playful manner. The man gave Draco a smirk, one that looked eerily like the smirk Draco had been giving her earlier.
"Scorpious." Draco said coolly, glaring at the man in the portrait. The portrait gave one last smirk and moved as to expose an opening in the wall. Draco passed through, but before Hermione left the room she heard the portrait whisper to her,
"Don't worry. He'll take care of you."