A/N
Please don't forget to review! I would love to hear some feedback and how you are liking the story so far. I have a lot planned for the characters so I'm excited. Please enjoy this next installment.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K Rowling. Not me, sadly :C
Wednesday came along and Hermione succeeded in avoiding the boys, Mclaggen, and Draco Malfoy. Tonight one of those people she would be unable to avoid, unfortunately.
Tonight was her and Malfoy's detention in the library. She was excited to sort through books but not excited about having to do it with Malfoy.
Hermione showed up 10 minutes early to get the information from Ms. Pince but she refused to have her start working without Malfoy present.
Malfoy finally showed up 5 minutes late, making both Hermione and Ms. Pince in a bad mood.
He smirked at the two ladies. "Awe how sweet Granger, you waited up for me."
Hermione glared at him, "Actually I suggested that I leave and make you do all the work but as you can see I didn't succeed."
Malfoy glared back and was about to retort with a nasty comment when Ms. Pince interrupted him. "Both of you follow me!" She demanded with a snap of her fingers.
She led them to the back of the library where on top of a table were 4 boxes full of books. Hermione's heart seized at the opportunity to get her hands on all the glorious books.
Draco caught the hungry glint in her eye and rolled his eyes. What a bookworm he thought to himself.
Ms. Pince began again, "You both must work together to make sure all of these books get put in their rightful place before the end of the night." She gestured towards the 4 boxes.
Hermione was so excited she was jumping up and down.
Ms. Pince continued, "But you must do so without magic. So please hand over your wands."
Hermione deflated, "No magic! But that could take all night!"
"Only if you two refuse to help each other, then yes it will take you all night."
Malfoy looked furious, "You can't take my wand away! What if she tries something!" His wand was clutched tightly in his hand.
With a flick of her wrist, Ms. Pince held both Hermione and Malfoy's wands in her hand. Malfoy bristled.
"My father will hear about this! Taking away students wands is forbidden!" Ms. Pince was already across the library and out of sight. Hermione watched Malfoy's hand twitch nervously at the absence of his wand.
Hermione spoke first, "Come on let's get this done. I'd rather not spend my whole night in here with you." She approached the boxes and grabbed the nearest book on the top. She recognized the title and opened it up.
Hermione brought the book to her face and took in a deep sniff of the dusty, woody scent of old books. A faint smile crossed her lips as she reminisced the day she smelled her first book. It was love at first sniff.
She placed the first book onto the table and picked up another book, smelling its pages.
She repeated this action, book after book, unaware of the grey eyes watching her curiously.
The owner of the grey eyes ruined her moment of serenity with his cold, calculating voice. "We most definitely will be spending the whole night together if you decide you want to sniff every book you come across." Hermione lifted her nose from the book she was currently sniffing. Her cheeks turned crimson from embarrassment.
"Oh, I forgot you were still here." She put the book down.
Malfoy smirked, leaning against the nearest book shelf with his arms crossed. "If you want I can leave and give you and the books some privacy. You guys seem a little busy."
Hermione scowled, "Ha Ha very funny. Let's just get to work Malfoy."
Hermione started on the first box while Malfoy began another box. For the most part they ignored each other and just focused on the books they had to put away.
The box Hermione was working on had mostly romance novels and mysteries.
From spending most of her school years in the library, Hermione discovered how the library was set up.
On the far left side were all the documentaries and biographies of famous witches and wizards. On the right side was the restricted section, Ms. Pince's desk and the book return.
On the back wall was books for classes and other research books on spells, potions, and more.
In the middle were all the fiction novels and some more non-fiction books.
Hermione practically lived in this library so she had no issue sorting the books without magic.
Malfoy on the other hand would take a book to put away and be gone for 5 minutes at a time.
Hermione had already finished her first box while Malfoy was only halfway finished through his first box.
She wondered if he was going slow on purpose or if he really had no idea where anything was. By the time Hermione had finished her second box and Malfoy had finished his first, it was already midnight.
Hermione let out a long yawn and rubbed her eyes. She sat in one of the chairs and rested her head on the table.
She told herself she would rest just a couple of minutes then she would get up. She slowly drifted off to the ruffling noise of footsteps coming and going. And then she fell asleep.
Hermione woke up to the sound of someone talking to her. She slowly lifted her head off her arms and was blinded by the sunlight.
What the…
She turned her head to see Ms. Pince was the voice talking to her.
She looked up at the librarian with a confused look. "Oh I must have fell asleep studying last night. I swear it won't happen again Ms. Pince."
Ms. Pince gave her an odd look. "I doubt you were studying last night Miss Granger. If I recall correctly, you were here last night serving your detention."
Hermione slapped her hand to her forehead. That's right! Detention! She must of fell asleep which means Malfoy would have left with the work unfinished.
"I'm so sorry. I promise I will return tonight to finish the rest of the books. I was just so tired."
Ms. Pince smiled slightly. "That's quite alright Miss Granger. In fact Mister Malfoy turned in all 4 empty boxes to my desk last night before he left. I wasn't aware you were still back here."
Hermione gaped at the librarian. "But that's impossible! There was one full box left. Malfoy wouldn't have done it if I had fallen asleep."
"It seems he had. You had better get going. Class starts in less than an hour and it would be unfortunate if you are late to class. So run along." Hermione gathered her things and rushed out of the library with her mind swimming with questions.
During Ancient Runes Hermione itched to ask Malfoy questions but she never got the chance. She arrived too late to class to ask him before class and he practically ran out of the room after class was over before she could question him then.
That day in potions Hermione sat next to Harry.
While Slughorn was giving a particularly boring lecture on bezoar Harry leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Where have you been Mione'. Ron and I haven't seen you in a couple days."
Hermione whispered back, "Yeah sorry I've been really busy."
Harry shook his head. "Busy? It's the first week of school, how busy could you be."
Hermione shrugged her shoulders.
"Is it because of Ron?" Harry gave her a concerned look.
Hermione looked down at her notes. "No. Yes. I mean sort of but not really. Other stuff has come up. Like I said I've been busy."
Harry looked unconvinced. "You're lying. Something is troubling you. I know when you aren't okay. You can tell me, you know. Even if it is about Ron."
Hermione shook her head. "It's not about Ron. And I don't want to trouble you. With everything going on with-" She paused to take a look around her "-Voldemort, you already have a lot to worry about. I'm just stressed about this project with Malfoy. He's been a right-" Hermione was cut off by Professor Slughorn.
"Miss Granger is there something you would like to share with the class. You and Mister Potter seem quite involved in your own personal discussion. It must be more interesting than my lecture, so please share." The professor had a goofy grin spreading from ear to ear.
Hermione looked down at her hands. "I assure you Professor our conversation is not nearly as stimulating as your lecture."
Slughorn seemed to like this response and returned to his teaching.
At the end of class Hermione and Harry were exiting the class while laughing about Slughorn when someone aggressively bumped into her causing her to fall to her knees and drop all her books.
She looked up into the mocking face of Draco Malfoy. "Oh sorry Granger did I interrupt your stimulating conversation with Potter."
Pansy Parkinson came to stand next to him and laughed at her. "Oh look the mudblood finally found her rightful place. On the floor where she belongs."
Hermione began collecting her fallen books when Pansy kicked one out of her hand. Hermione clutched her hand and cried out in pain.
Harry rushed over quickly and helped Hermione up to her feet. He wasted no time in taking out his wand and pointing it at Malfoy. "Get the hell out of here Malfoy and take your girlfriend with you." His eyes blazed with fury in the direction of the blonde slytherin.
Malfoy scoffed and took a step closer to Harry. "And what will you do if we don't."
Harry shook with rage. "If you dont take Parkinson and leave now I'll ruin you. I'm not afraid of you, Death Eater!" Harry could hear everyone around him gasp.
Hermione was still collecting her books when she stopped to listen in. She watched Malfoy's face pale and his body shake furiously.
She stood and made her way over to Harry, grabbing his arm and pulling him back.
"Relax, okay? I'm fine." She side glanced at Malfoy still shaking with a shocked look on his face.
She grabbed Harry's arm so he was forced to follow her so she could grab her Ancient Runes book.
Just as she was reaching down to get the book, she saw Pansy's foot ready to collide with her hand but it never impacted.
Hermione looked up to see Malfoy's hand on Pansy's arm, stopping her from kicking Hermione again.
While looking into Hermione's eyes, Draco told Pansy, "Come on let's go. The mudblood isn't worth our time."
The two slytherins walked down the hallway and out of sight. Pansy's cackles echoed off the walls.
Hermione blinked back tears. Normally the word mudblood did not hurt her anymore but for some reason that time it did.