Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. It's a sad, cruel torture, but I don't own it. :(
A/N: Thank you to anyone who has reviewed this story! This chapter will mostly be in Draco's POV. I have decided to make time pass a bit, so it is now one of the few tutoring sessions that they have (considering Hermione's in DA, and Draco's being asked by Umbridge to try to stop the DA, along with a couple other Slytherins). You may begin reading now. :D
I woke up when Pansy was flicking my head. She's my girlfriend again, and she flicks my head because I have to spend most of my free time in the evenings with Granger. For the past few months, Granger and I have become pretty good friends, but we still have each other and we're still secretly friends. Today was another tutoring session, and Pansy seems to have remembered. You know, if she didn't flick me, then I might sleep through the tutoring session, but I'm telling her that. I'm doing better in school, and I'm not risking that for a girl who'd be jealous if I was going out with an apple.
"Draco, get up! It's almost time for class. You slept through lunch," Pansy said, when she thought that I hadn't woken up yet.
"I'm hungry..." I said.
"Well, I did manage to save you some food," Pansy said. As soon as she said that, I was sitting up. She was holding a couple chicken legs and a biscuit. Sigh, not much, but more than I was going to get.
"Thanks," I said. I ate pretty quickly considering the fact that I had class in like five minutes, and that I had just slept through lunch. Before we left for Defense Against the Dark Arts, I had to find my book since there's no use for a wand. I can't stand that women, Umbridge. I'd like to know how to defend myself, and there's not way I'm learning from Harry. Besides, I'm supposed to catch Harry in the act, not join him. Pansy and I walked to class, and we sat next to each other. Class was pretty boring, and I didn't really listen, except when Umbridge was arguing with Harry. That made me laugh, especially when she said that he had detention. When class ended, Blaise was waiting for me outside the classroom.
"Hey Draco! So, how was class?" Blaise asked.
"Um...I dunno. I wasn't really listening much," I said. It was true, but only because it's a really boring class now. Good thing is that Umbridge won't last more than a year, at least, I hope that she doesn't.
"Great...well, only two more classes, then a bit of free time before dinner," Blaise said. Honestly, I was in no mood to go to any of my other classes.
"Wanna ditch with me?" I asked.
"Not really. I kinda want to pass notes to cute girls," Blaise said. That made me chuckle.
"Fine...I'll go to class..."
"Why wouldn't you want to? Awww...is Hermione not in any of your next couple of classes?"
"I wouldn't care if she was, in fact, I'd like it better if she wasn't in any of my classes."
"Yeah right."
"I don't like her Blaise, so you just get rid of the idea that we do."
"Such a liar. It's really funny that your denial makes it only more obvious."
"It's not obvious, if there's nothing to be obvious about. I honestly don't like her...hey, isn't this your class?" I was trying to change the subject. We were in front of the Charms classroom.
"Yeah...well, see ya later...and I'm not letting this subject go."
"See ya later Blaise..." I walked to Transfiguration, and the rest of the time until dinner was nice, but Blaise was constantly annoying me. Blaise and I were walking to dinner, when Pansy came up to us.
"Hey Pansy," I said.
"Hey Draco," She said, acting a bit snobby.
"Something wrong?" I asked.
"There's a lot. To begin, you've been hanging out with Blaise all day, and after dinner you have tutoring. We barely get to see each other these days," Pansy said.
"I know, I know, it's not my fault," I said.
"Yeah it is! You could always ask to not have a tutoring session once in a while."
"No I can't. Only if there's an emergency can I cancel a tutoring session. It's Granger's decision whether or not there's a tutoring session."
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you like her."
"No I do not."
"Yeah, you kinda do," Blaise said, now in our conversation. The three of us now went to sit at the Slytherin table.
"No, I kinda don't," I said. Pansy was now ignoring us, as she was now bored with the conversation. I had a feeling that she'd join right back in if she heard the right words.
"Look, Draco, I'll ask you in a note, and you can answer, honestly, on the note, and I'll throw it away right after I read it," Blaise said.
"No. I know you, and I know that you would show it to everyone before I would be able to do anything about it," I said.
"No, I wouldn't. I just want to know."
"Fine, write the question on paper, and I'll give you an answer back. Not that I trust you."
"Well, you must trust me enough if you're letting me do this..." Blaise said, while writing the note. He handed it to me, and it said: Draco, what is your Honest opinion of Granger?
I wrote back: I can't stand her, and I definitely hate her friends even more. Granger is ugly, stupid, and a mudblood. I hate that I have to associate with her in any way, and I can't stand talking about her. I hate her that much. I didn't mean most of it. Honestly, I thought she was okay to be around, I do hate her friends, I don't think she's stupid, I don't think she's ugly, but I don't think she's beautiful or pretty, I think she's kinda cute (I can't believe I just thought that...), she is a mudblood (and there's nothing positive I can say about that...), and I don't mind that I have to associate with her, and it tends to get annoying when I have to talk about her all the time. Mostly because Blaise just thinks that I like her. I handed Blaise back the note.
"Dude, this is really mean. Are you sure that you don't want anyone to see it?" Blaise asked.
"Yeah, I think it's better that way," I said. I didn't think I wanted her to hate me, because I didn't mean most of it, and it would make things REALLY awkward at tutoring, unless she decides to ignore me by cancelling as many tutoring sessions as she can. That could happen if that note happens to leak out.
"Alright then...I won't because I know that this isn't how you actually feel about her," Blaise said. Dinner was going well, until Blaise left the note unattended, and Pansy grabbed it.
"No!" I yelled. I grabbed the note from her, and threw it into my drink.
"What was that for?" Pansy asked.
"You took my note!" I said. I took out the note, and it was soaked. I put it on my plate. Dinner was just about over, and I was glad. This was the first time that I would be looking forward to tutoring because it would mean that I wouldn't have to worry about some stupid interrogation after dinner.
"Why do you care?" Pansy asked.
"Because if you wanted to know what it said, I would've told you. Taking it instead of asking me means that you don't trust me."
"But I do trust you."
"No, you don't. Not if you took my note, without permission."
"Why did you care so much? If you were going to tell me, then why did you just put it in that drink?"
"Because..." I couldn't say much. She had me beat.
"Because you can't keep your big mouth shut long enough," Blaise said.
"What he said."
"Draco Malfoy, why did I ever fall for you? I should never, ever trust you. I doubt that I ever will again. I'm breaking up with you."
"Whatever." On the inside, this kinda made me happy. I can't stand the girl since she's so annoying. Dinner was over, so I went to my dorm, grabbed my books, and headed to Snape's classroom.
"Hey Granger," I said, putting my books down.
"Hey Malfoy. What was going on at your table?" Hermione asked.
"Stupid stuff. I didn't want Pansy to see the note that I made. It was answering the question Blaise asked me on that same paper," I said.
"Oh, what was it about?" Hermione asked.
"That's why I couldn't show her. Look, I didn't mean what I said on it. I said that I hated your guts. I didn't mean it, but I said it so Blaise would get off my back," I said.
"Oh."
"Yeah. And, Pansy would've told like everyone, and I wouldn't have had a chance to explain, so then these sessions would get awkward, and you would start cancelling sessions because you hated me. I actually wouldn't like that. You've been, really helpful mud-er, Granger."
"Well, should we get started?"
"Yeah. We should."
"So, is there anything that you want to start with first?" I wasn't really sure. I had a lot to do, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to it. I kinda just wanted to talk, but it won't help my grades. Although, they've been good, everyone (meaning: all the teachers and Dumbledore) think that I would probably start failing if Hermione continued to help me. I didn't really mind, and Dumbledore knew that. Honestly, in these past few months, I've started to develop feelings for this girl, who in the beginning, I wanted nothing to do with. I doubt that she feels the same way since I've been really meant to her for like 5 years of her life. The only reason I stop myself from saying 'mudblood' in front of her is because I can see that it hurts her. I feel stupid for falling for her. It's the stupidest idea I've ever had.
"Draco, you seem a bit out of it, would you like to do this another time?" Hermione asked.
"Sorry, just, give me a second," I said. I wanted to work on potions.
"Potions. I would like to work on potions," I said. I went to reach my book, but Hermione decided to try to also, and our hands touched. It was the weirdest feeling ever. The feel of her soft hand. She pulled her hand back, and I grabbed my book.
*Hermione's POV*
During dinner, I had seen Draco and Pansy argue, then dinner was over, and I walked straight to Snape's classroom, since I had everything I needed with me. After about 10 minutes, Draco came in and said,"Hey Granger." and put his books down.
"Hey Malfoy. What was going on at your table?" I asked. I was curious, and it was okay if he didn't tell me.
"Stupid stuff. I didn't want Pansy to see the note that I made. It was answering the question Blaise asked me on that same paper," Draco said. Oh, well what was on the note that Draco didn't want Pansy to see? I guess I'll ask. I don't mind if he doesn't tell me. I highly doubt he will.
"Oh, what was it about?" I asked.
"That's why I couldn't show her. Look, I didn't mean what I said on it. I said that I hated your guts. I didn't mean it, but I said it so Blaise would get off my back," Draco said. That hurt me, really bad, even if he didn't mean it. We were friends, and friends shouldn't do that to other friends.
"Oh."
"Yeah. And, Pansy would've told like everyone, and I wouldn't have had a chance to explain, so then these sessions would get awkward, and you would start cancelling sessions because you hated me. I actually wouldn't like that. You've been, really helpful mud-er, Granger."
"Well, should we get started?" I slightly cringed when he almost said 'mudblood'. I don't understand why this hurts more than usual.
"Yeah. We should."
"So, is there anything that you want to start with first?" I asked him. I didn't understand why, but I kinda liked him. It's really immature that I do, I mean, I'm supposed to help him with classes, not try to date him. I despise him, I don't like him, but maybe I do, and it started when he and I had been having tutoring sessions together, and now I was falling for him, when I told myself that I wouldn't. I doubt that he likes me, so I'll try not to make it obvious that I do, since I'm 99% positive that he doesn't like me. I guess maybe it is 100%, but a girl can hope that the guy she likes, likes her back. I'm definitely not going to ask him.
"Draco, you seem a bit out of it, would you like to do this another time?" I said, after a few minutes of watching him and thinking.
"Sorry, just, give me a second," he said. I was hoping that he would pick potions. He's always had a bit of trouble with them.
"Potions. I would like to work on potions," Draco said. I wanted to be helpful, so I went to grab his potions book, but he was going to grab it too, and our hands touched. It made my heart skip a beat. It was weird, and I hope that accidents like that don't ever happen ever again, well maybe just one more time. I pulled my hand back, and he grabbed his book.
*Draco's POV*
"We should get started," Hermione said. Okay, that was REALLY awkward, but I kinda liked it.
"Yeah, we should. Well, Snape wants to see if I can make a better quality Calming Draught," I said.
"Okay, let's do it, or you do it, and I'll help you if needed," Hermione said.
"I know what you do. We've been doing this for almost four months now."
"Right." I started, and Hermione watched.
"Stir it a bit slower," Hermione said. I stirred it, REALLY slow now.
"Not like that," Hermione said. She walked over, and put her hand on mine, and guided me. Her face was close to mine, and I could see her eyes. They were pretty. I slightly smiled, and she looked at me, then jumped back like ten feet when she probably realized that we were about to kiss.
"What's wrong?" I asked, pretending that none of that happened.
"What we were about to do," she said.
"And just, what was that?" I asked, playing innocent.
"We were, about to kiss," she said.
"And, why would you jump back?" I asked, because, honestly, I'm not used to any girl jumping back when she was so close to my face.
"Because, you don't like me."
"I'm going to regret saying this about as soon as I say it, but I kinda think that I like you."
"Why would you like me, at all?"
"Because, you've been so understanding when no one else has, and you were still willing to tutor me even though we both hate each other." It felt kinda good to admit, but it also felt wrong. I never should've said that.
"Oh."
"Well, the stupid question that I'm about to ask is, do you like kinda think that you like me back?"
"No. Not at all." That hurt.
"Why not?"
"Because! I'm supposed to teaching you, not kissing you."
"But, besides that, do you like me?" I'm waiting for her to admit it.
"Yeah..." She seemed to have regretted it.
"Well, now that's everything's said, we should get back to working, or rather, me working, and you helping only when I need it."
"I know the drill, we've been doing this for almost four months." I smiled, and so did she. Things were going to change, and I didn't know how I was going to take it.
Review please! Hope you liked this chapter, and I hope you look forward for the next one. :D
A/N: I may not update for a couple days since the weekend is almost here, so just wanted to let you know. I'm probably going to update by Monday at the latest. :D