October 21, 1996
Dramione- A Love Fiasco
The Deep, Dark and Dirty (and the Dirtier still)
My dear friends, classmates, buddies, and cockroaches, we have an anomaly on our hands. Now, as an attendee of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this could apply to a variety of things: Dumbledore trimmed his beard; Snape washed his hair; Hagrid introducing us to a creature that has an appetite for human flesh; man eating plants; Terry Boot spying on girls in the fourth floor bathroom; Dennis Creevey wears tighty whities (sorry Dennis) But alas, none of these are what I am here to inform you of. No, here today, I have the sole purpose of notifying you of a forbidden love that has blossomed right under our noses.
Why, I am speaking of the escapades of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy of course.
According to my sources, this illicit affair was budding long before the Potions class incident (see page 6 for background info on said class and the Acamara Lotus potion) Now they have thrown caution to the wind.
Both sides deny any feelings for each other. However, events took an interesting turn just last night when Hermione Granger made Draco Malfoy victim to a potent love potion, the Expedementia potion (for more on the Expedementia potion, go to your nearest teacher, I don't feel like explaining it) Suspicious, hmm?
"I've always loved you." Malfoy was overheard telling Granger. Granger seems to be expressing her love through acts of violence (please, someone show this girl how to properly flirt. Hogwarts sees enough injuries as is) kicking, slapping, and tripping her object of affections, Slytherin's ice prince. Granger is experiencing a roller coaster of emotions. "He is attractive," she says shyly when asked what she thinks of the blond bombshell. Upon being questioned about the secrecy about their relationship, she replied, "The way everyone reacted today [in potions class w/Acamara Lotus] you'd think it was a crime to love him."
The couple has been seen secretly meeting in the library during dinner and cuddling in Potions class. Who knows just how physical the two have been? "They just ooze sexual tension," a source- who wishes to remain anonymous for life-concerning purposes- tells me. "There has always been something there, under the surface," a fifth year Ravenclaw recalls. "Argh!" says a member of Draco Malfoy's Fan Club.
As mysterious, confusing, exciting, and romantic as this romance is, I will dutifully be here to report back to you on it. I promise all the juicy details. I shall leave no stone unturned concerning this controversial relationship. Mwhaha! Until next time!
The Editor
Hermione screamed.
It was a loud scream, one that could blow out ear drums and cause the plants in Professor Sprout's greenhouses to wilt.
"WHAT IS THIS?" she demanded a passing Hufflepuff. The small thing promptly fainted.
Seething and practically foaming at the mouth, Hermione stormed into the Great Hall, the Hogwarts Rattler's latest edition in her grip. Her entrance produced a tidal wave of whispers- the bolder ones actually pointed. Biting her lip, Hermione actually had to stop herself from growling at some of them.
"Sooo…." Harry began as she sat down. Her eyes turned to slits.
"No."
"But-"
"No."
"I just-"
"Harry Potter."
"Alright!"
"Hermione, what is this?" Ron shook the offending newspaper. "You and the ferret really aren't-?"
"None of it's true. I don't know who this 'Editor' thinks they are, but when we meet, I'm going to introduce them to my fist." Hermione teared apart a piece of bagel with her teeth viciously.
"As much as it wreaks treachery on your love life, you can't help but appreciate the word flow," Ginny piped up from the side. Harry, Ron and Hermione all turned to stare at her. The girl shrugged. "What? I acknowledge good writing when I see it."
Hermione shook her head. "Whoever it is writing this has been eavesdropping on my conversations and twisting my words."
"Whoever wrote this has a pretty creative imagination too," Harry fluffed the paper so that he could read it a little better. "I mean, purposely spilling the Expedementia potion on Malfoy? Bullocks!"
Hermione stared at her plate.
"Oh merlin," Ron dragged a hand down his face. "Hermione, what did you do?"
"It was an accident!" she squeaked, throwing her hands in front of her face to defend herself.
"Maybe we shouldn't talk about this now. Later, in the Common room, away from unwanted ears," Harry scanned the Great Hall through narrow eyes, fending off everyone who had leaned in to hear the Golden Trio's conversation about the traitorous article.
"You never know who is listening," Ron attempted to look threatening like Harry, but the effect was lost by the crumbs covering his face.
"I have a feeling that it won't be the last you see of 'The Editor,'" Ginny said offhandedly. Hermione winced, but nodded in agreement. This morning had created nothing but agitation, embarrassment, anger, and that empty feeling that refused to go away. She stood up. She needed time to think, a more importantly, she had to find Malfoy. If that ferret had spilled anything to the reporters of the Hogwarts Rattler...
"Library, now," someone bumped her shoulder as he passed by her. Hermione didn't need to see to know who it was. Making a quick excuse, she hurried off, but was soon assaulted by the shouts of curious students.
"Just how 'physical' are you guys?"
"Yeah, hope you're making good of that sexual tension!"
"Has he made it to third base yet?"
"How dare you call him attractive! Only Draco's Fan Club members can do that!"
"Argh!"
"Hey, Hermione! I can teach you how to flirt, babe!"
"Snape lets you cuddle in his class? Perks of being with a Slytherin I suppose."
"I can never look at the library the same way again! Oh, corruption!"
"Do you think Malfoy's introduced her to his parents yet?"
"Probably not. She's still alive."
"Good work, Sherlock."
"It's elementary, my dear Watson."
"Forbidden love at Hogwarts!"
"Dennis wears tighty whities?"
"This is so romantic!"
"Hold the phone, I gotta call my mom about this- wait, give it back, I can't call anyone without it!"
She all but sprinted from the Great Hall and ran to the safe haven of the library. No one would follow her in there.
He was at the back table again, which suggested that he either wanted to talk in private or that he wanted to murder her discreetly. It was probably the latter, judging by the look on his face. But when she approached him and her hand unconsciously went to her wand in her pocket, a sly smile lifted the corners of his lips. Merlin help her.
"You think I'm attractive?"
Hermione blinked before rapidly shaking her head. "What? No!" That wasn't what she expected to hear first thing. Maybe a lecture about how she was dirtying his reputation, or some threats to stay away from him. A normal person would have immediately demanded answers about the article. But then again, Hermione noted, this wasn't a normal person. It was Draco Malfoy.
Hermione gulped suddenly. Was he going to ream her out about the Expedementia incident? Did he even remember it? She recalled Slughorn saying something about the Expedementia victim possibly not remembering the time while under the love potion. She sure hoped he didn't remember it, for both their sakes. After he had given her some puppy eyes, she had stayed with him in the Hospital Wing until late in the evening, when he had fallen asleep. If she were being honest, the conversation they had was actually kind of…cute. There, she said it. But really, who wouldn't think that an innocent looking Draco Malfoy asking about your favorite color was adorable?
It was such a shame. Madam Pomfrey had let him go, so she could only assume that the potion was out of his system. Looks like there would be no more debates over colors.
Hermione took a deep breath to clear her thoughts and Malfoy smirked at her. "The article says that you think-"
"And the article also says that you've always loved me. Are you suggesting that is true as well?" Hermione countered.
Draco blanched. "Point taken," he cleared his throat as if to say something, but then changed his mind.
"Something's bothering you, just spit it out," Hermione said impatiently.
Draco gave her a dirty look. "Did you really spill the Expedementia potion on me on purpose?"
Hermione's mouth popped open. "No! I-it was an accident!"
"Really." He said flatly. It didn't take a genius to know that he wasn't convinced.
"Yes," Hermione stared at him. "Why would I purposely do something like that?" She could almost feel the anger that flared up in his eyes. Or maybe she did feel it. Hermione clenched her fists together at her sides.
"I don't know, to embarrass me? To humiliate me in front of the entire school?"
"I embarrassed you?" she asked, and whatever Malfoy was going to say next was lost on his tongue.
"I-what, no, you just-"
"I didn't mean to embarrass you, it was an accident, really," she said honestly. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul as he stared at her in silence.
"Okay," he said, running a hand through his hair. Hermione blinked as her eyes followed the movement.
"Look! It's them! Dramione! It's true! The article holds the sacred truth!" Terry Boot exclaimed, pointing his finger and gesturing at Hermione and Draco wildly.
"Maybe the library wasn't the best choice as a meeting spot," Hermione groaned, preparing to slap herself in the face.
Draco's eyes narrowed. "Come on," he grabbed her wrist to pull her away, and the growing crowd went crazy. Draco dropped it like it burned him.
"Hey, look over here! I want your picture!"
"Hold hands or something!"
"Snog her!"
Draco began shoving through the developing throng of people, and Hermione quickly followed after him. A camera flashed, dazing her. "I'm a reporter for the Hogwarts Rattler. I was wondering if you'd take the time to answer some of these questions-"
"No!" Hermione ducked her head and ran for it, but she didn't feel safe when she was out of the library. She followed Draco as they ran through the corridors, trying to lose the mass of people. Before long, it was only the two of them alone in one of the many drafty corridors, but Draco didn't slow his speed much.
"We are not done talking. I demand answers!" Hermione chased after him, trying to keep up with his swift pace. He stopped abruptly and spun around to face her. It almost resulted in her crashing into him. Instantly, her mouth opened to reprimand him, but no words came out. She couldn't help it, she stared. His grey eyes were bright and cheeks slightly flushed from running through the corridors. His chest was heaving as his breath left his mouth in little pants. All of this painted an erotic image in her mind. Her pulse jumped.
"What are you waiting for, then?" he challenged her, gazing down at her in a look that could be described as defiance.
"I thought we had a truce! An agreement to not explore this entire…thing! It was our secret," Hermione gestured between the two of them, and Draco's brow crinkled in confusion, or maybe it was anger.
"Then maybe you shouldn't have gone blabbing to the reporters of the Hogwarts Rattler! They have a history of blowing things out of proportion, what were you thinking? Was this some stupid revenge plot gone wrong?" he demanded.
"No! How can you say that?" Hermione glared at him fiercely.
"How else would 'The Editor', and now the whole school, know about all of this if you didn't tell them?" His voice was beginning to gain more volume, and Hermione's matched it.
"How dare you accuse me of- wait, if you didn't say anything to them, and I didn't say anything…who did?" Her eyes widened as his words processed. In a new fit of paranoia she swept her eyes around the empty corridor, hoping that it truly as empty as it appeared.
Malfoy picked up for her. "So either someone is listening in on our conversations and spying on us, or…" He too seemed a bit more apprehensive about their location, now.
"The people we did tell the details to betrayed us." Hermione finished for him dryly.
"Stupid Gryffindors, you always put your trust in the wrong people," he sneered at her. No doubt he was about to launch into a speech about how Slytherins were superior beings and blah blah blah.
"I'm not in the best of moods lately, don't try me." Hermione practically growled, trying to disregard the jab at her and her friends.
"Welcome to my life," Draco muttered.
A scathing retort was on her tongue when she froze. His words shook her to the core. Just like that, it clicked. The reason why she'd been feeling off for days, surrounded by negativity and all things that quite honestly she associated with Malfoy. Feeling unbalanced and odd. She was practically experiencing his life, for Merlin's sake.
"No way," she murmured, staring at her hands then at Malfoy.
"What now," he rolled his eyes, but his sneer slipped from his face when he saw her expression.
"Malfoy, we have a problem," Hermione said with a new dawning horror. "I think we've created an Empathy Link."
"That's impossible."
She wished it was.
Sighing to herself, Hermione ran a hand through her hair. Or rather, she tried to. Her fingers immediately got snared in the mass of curls. "No, it's not. You heard what Slughorn said-" she painfully tried to tug them out. No luck.
"I'm not in love with you!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, still working to untangle her hand from her head. "Maybe you didn't hear what Slughorn said. An Empathy Link doesn't have to be created over romantic relations," she said slowly, letting the words sink in.
"I still hate you, then," Malfoy said, though there was a flicker of uncertainty that had Hermione's stomach twisting into painful knots.
"Glad we've settled that," Hermione muttered, and gave another attempt at freeing her hand. Cursing herself under her breath, she massaged her scalp with her free hand, grimacing.
"How can you be sure?" Malfoy asked suspiciously, like she had intentionally done this.
"It makes sense," Hermione began to pace back and forth. "I've been feeling emotions that I shouldn't be. I get angry for no reason, I feel alone in a room full of people. It's odd. I know that the Acamara Lotus potion heightens feelings, but it only enhances feelings that were already there in the first place,"
"Unless you're feeling my emotions," Draco caught on, though he didn't look too happy about it. "But one thing doesn't make sense."
"What's that?"
"I haven't been feeling your emotions," Malfoy said honestly
Hermione was stunned. "What? How can that be?" Was it possible for a Link to be one sided?
"You might be sensing my emotions, Granger, but I'm not picking up on any sense of obnoxious happiness or anything else out of place."
"Are you sure?" Hermione stressed, not liking to feel so confused. Just when she thought that she had this thing figured out...
"Positive."
Hermione groaned in frustration.
"Should we ask Slughorn about it or-"
"No!" Malfoy said immediately. "Do you really want more people to know about this?"
"He's a teacher! He's not going to say anything to other students!" Hermione argued, but Malfoy shook his head.
"We should keep this to ourselves for now until we figure out more about what's happening. Agreed?"
With a sigh of reluctance, Hermione said, "Agreed."
"Good."
"I'm not making any promises- What's the matter with you?" Hermione questioned, noticing the tight expression on his face, like he had just tasted something sour.
"I don't want you to feel my emotions!" Admittedly, she already knew that. She could feel the unease rolling off of him in waves.
"I hardly want to experience them either, Malfoy," she said cooly.
"But…you're violating my privacy!"
"It's not by choice," Hermione reminded him bitterly, but he still looked incredibly uncomfortable. "Malfoy, it's not like I can hear your thoughts or anything."
Draco looked scandalized by the idea.
"Look, can you just…not tune into my emotions closely?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I can't really control what I pick up from you. I suppose I can try to block out some, but I can't make any promises."
Foot steps sounded a little ways away, and Hermione took a step back. "We shouldn't be seen together, we need to give the article and the rest of the students time to air out. See you in detention," she said, before spinning on her heel and running off, trying to ignore the surge of hollowness in the pit of her stomach.
This was all so strange, it was giving her a headache. As she walked further away from Malfoy, she could feel his confusion mingling with her own. Would this supposed Empathy Link change their relationship? Would things be different from here on out? The entire conversation, the entire ordeal, was alarming.
There was one concept about that conversation that terrified her. If they truly had a one sided Empathy Link, then Hermione was feeling Draco's emotions. She was dying to ask him about it, but Malfoy was already uncomfortable enough and felt like she was encroaching on his privacy, so she had kept silent. Hermione had promised to not dwell on his emotions for too long- by Draco's request- but there was one feeling of his that scared her. The numbness that had been consuming her. A sense of relief had washed over Hermione when she realized that the feeling wasn't her own. But at the same time, she was frightened. Why did Draco constantly feel so empty?
"Ah! Madam Pince! I can't thank you enough for this!" Slughorn cried and patted the willowy librarian on the back a bit too roughly- she nearly went crashing to the ground. She grimaced and adjusted her glasses.
"Yes, well, I'm sure I'll find some valuable way for you to return the favor," she muttered, before turning to Hermione and Draco. "Come with me."
She led the two into a back room. The carpet was caked with crumbled chalk, and the small space was filled with rows and rows of filing cabinets, baskets, and a few odd shelves, all overflowing with parchment and books. Dust bunnies were inhabiting the room with fervor, and the air was thick and stale, explained by the lack of windows.
"I wasn't prepared to take students in for detention," she grumbled and glared at them like it was their fault for Slughorn dumping them with her. "This room holds the records of every book we have in this library," Hermione's eyes widened. "You will be cataloguing them."
"All of them?" Hermione squeaked, knowing first hand just how many books there were in the library. Madam Pince nodded in confirmation, looking slightly relieved that it wasn't her own task.
"You will categorize them by subject, and then individually in each subject by title and author. I will come fetch you in a few hours. I expect you to only perform your task. I will be in to check on your progress. You can start with the 'A's, by author. And oh, wands please?"
"What?!" Draco exclaimed, and Hermione's own jaw dropped. This task was hard enough with wands to aid them, but performing it without magic? They would be here all night!
Madam Pince glared at them in a way that shut them up of all further protest. Grudgingly, Hermione pulled her wand out of her pocket and handed it over, watching as Malfoy did the same. Nodding again shortly, Madam Pince turned and marched out the door. "Students…detention…Horace…fluorescent lights…" she mumbled, tucking stray hairs back into her tidy bun. The door slammed behind them, leaving Hermione and Draco alone in the dusty room.
"This is all you're fault." Malfoy growled, stomping over to a filing cabinet and yanking it open with unnecessary force.
Well, technically, it may have been her fault, but Hermione wasn't about to admit that.
"Please, if you weren't so clumsy, you wouldn't have crashed into the table," Hermione picked up a catalogue and after inspecting it, tossed it aside. Casually, she glanced over at Malfoy. She hadn't spoken to him yet about the Expedementia incident in detail, and she had no intention to. Of course, Malfoy had other ideas.
"And I suppose it's my klutzy antics that landed me in the hospital wing under the effects of an incredibly potent, and may I add dangerous, love potion." Hermione winced as she recalled the previous night.
Hermione said shortly, "I suppose," before turning her full attention to the filing cabinet in front of her. It had the most fascinating pattern of spider webs entangled between the cabinet and the book shelf next to it. There was even a fly caught in the sticky silk.
Hermione was still intently staring at the spider web, fully intending to not look at Malfoy, when the blond shuffled up beside her. She thought she was in for it when she heard him exhale loudly. "What…er, what exactly happened?" he scratched the back of his neck, probably at the horrifying prospect of asking her a civil question.
Hermione frowned at him oddly; an entire chunk of his memory was in her hands to be replaced and altered. It was strange that he was trusting her with it. Not that he had many options, but…
"How much do you remember?"
"You mean after you sent me flying to the floor?" he sneered at her. Ah, civil moment gone.
Hermione gave him a smirk to match. "Yes, after that," his eyes narrowed, and Hermione hurriedly opened the filing cabinet and shoved a folder into his hands. Better to have his hands full so he couldn't attack her as easily, she reasoned.
"I've got bits and pieces. Like Slughorn yelling at you when he first walked into the dungeons, you being all jumpy, you staring into my eyes in awe-"
"Excuse me, I don't remember that bit-" the pile of parchment she had been holding fell to the floor heavily with a thwap, the scent of old paper ruffling upward towards her nose.
A smirk snaked onto his lips in triumph. Hermione growled. "Then I remember most of the stuff that happened in the hospital wing, a bunch of boring medical things that Pomfrey was fussing over. And Slughorn yelling at you- again," he said cheekily. Hermione's fingers itched to slap him, but her growing anxiety was stronger.
"Do you remember anything after that?" asked Hermione slowly, watching him to gauge his reaction.
"It's a bit fuzzy," he shrugged, and Hermione unconsciously breathed out a sigh of relief. She wasn't sure how he'd react to the fact that she had caved last night and stayed with him until the small hours of the morning. He didn't need to know that she had felt guilty about what happened. No, that wouldn't do.
"That's pretty much it," she lied, feigning innocence as she swept up another group of folders to examine. He stared at her with narrowed eyes for a long moment, then seemed to accept her answer.
The next twenty minutes found them in silence. They had both decided that sitting on the old dusty carpet was more comfortable then standing and sorting through papers. Hermione could feel the tension radiating off of Malfoy, which was putting her on edge. She bit her tongue to keep herself from asking what was bothering him, because quite frankly, now it was bothering her too. This Empathy Link situation was off to a bad start.
Shaking her head, Hermione turned her attention to the stacks of parchment before her. Twenty-Three Uses of Spider Legs in Aiding Pregnancy and A Wizard's Guide to Hair Removal, two books Hermione was sure she didn't want anything to do with, had apparently been checked out by Zacharias Smith as of last Saturday. Curious, Hermione's nose crinkled, that being a matter she didn't think any further about. Hufflepuffs.
The silence continued and Hermione began to feel an odd tingling sensation. Perhaps it was anxiety, it would explain why her stomach was twisting in knots. "Malfoy," she said cautiously, willing his eyes to meet hers. He rolled them first, but they did meet her brow ones, after an over-exaggerated sigh of course. "Are you alright? You seem very…on edge."
Malfoy immediately glared at her. "You said you wouldn't focus on the Link," she noticed that he intentionally avoided saying 'my emotions.'
"Maybe you should try to feel less strongly," she glared right back. And just like that, the feeling was gone. Hermione almost gasped at the absence of it.
"How'd you do that?" she exclaimed in alarm. Malfoy glowered at her.
"Do what?"
"You just cut it off!"
"Cut what off?" he demanded incredulously
"The Link! I can't feel anything from you!" she said hurriedly, and Malfoy's eyes widened, reflecting the same surprise she felt.
"That's great!" he said, looking positively elated. A burst of happiness so bright and colorful nearly knocked Hermione off her feet. She gripped onto the filing cabinet and bit her lip to keep from gasping.
"It's back," she said softly, feeling a pang of regret for informing him when his eyes dropped to the floor. The two fell back into the silence that was becoming so common for them. Sighing, Hermione dropped a pile of parchment, smiling as the scent of old, crisp paper wafted up to her.
"What's the matter with you?"
She lifted her head to find the blond staring at her as if she had three heads. "It's just…I've always loved the smell of parchment." She admitted a little self-consciously.
Malfoy scoffed, tossing Reptiles; The Ultimate Aphrodisiac across the room, it landing with a loud thud on the dusty carpet. Hermione waved her hand in front of her, coughing as a dust plume infiltrated the stuffy air. "You don't see me stopping to sniff every piece, and I happen to like it a lot too."
Hermione wondered if Malfoy realized what he had just said or the memories it personally drudged up in Hermione's mind.
Honeysuckle, pine and parchment.
"I remember," she said softly. Malfoy's head snapped up and his eyes met hers. He pulled his stormy gaze away from her, but it flitted back, then away again; much like a child caught staring at their school crush. Shifting uncomfortably, Malfoy attempted a glare before it faltered and he wrenched his eyes away from hers, slightly pink in the cheeks.
It was weird, being able to experience Malfoy's emotions. In the past he had struck her as emotionless- again, the Human Rock, anyone?- and she often questioned whether the Pureblood teen billionaire even had feelings. Even if he had them, he did a fine job of filing them away behind a stony façade. But now, she had access to a whole new perspective. Every sneer held something; anger, embarrassment, anxiety, irritation, the list went on. Every time he'd turn his face from her, she could tell what was running through his mind just by what he was feeling. Just now, when he had looked away from her, she could feel the embarrassment radiating off of him, and the irritation with himself for not catching the implications of his words.
In a way, she knew Malfoy better than anyone else did. Hermione wasn't blind; she knew that Malfoy didn't let anyone in. Even his best mate Blaise Zabini and personal lap dog Pansy Parkinson seemed to be just as in the dark about their friend as everyone else was. Draco Malfoy was forever unreadable. Until now, that is. And Hermione could feel how nervous he was that she would exploit this opportunity.
But she wouldn't do that. Not just yet anyways, not unless she were provoked. Because that was their relationship, really. Though she would be kidding herself if Hermione said that Malfoy wouldn't have already used this Empathy Link against her were the situation switched.
Pulling herself back to the present, Hermione tuned into the Link, and blinked a few times at his stand-offish mood. Right, so the whole Acamara Lotus smell thing was probably a big No-No Topic. Discussing this with her supposed love was making both of them uncomfortable. However, it was a gateway to another conversation that Hermione knew the two of them direly needed to have.
"What are we going to do about our…predicament?" asked Hermione, shifting her weight uncertainly from foot to foot. Malfoy shot her a glare.
"Let's forget about it," he said briskly, shoving a pile of papers into a random folder. It was an obvious 'We're done talking' move.
"In case you've forgotten, your emotions have become my emotions. It makes 'forgetting' about it a bit difficult," she put her hand on an old magazine Malfoy had just tried to move, stopping it in its place on the table. His grey eyes flashed up to hers, startled.
"It would be easier if we just-"
"What, not pay attention to this? Whether you like it or not, we are in this together. This isn't just something we can ignore! I mean, we hardly know anything about Empathy Links. For all we know, ours could be growing stronger with every passing day!" The last part was said in a hiss, and Malfoy's eyes widened in alarm.
"No…" he breathed, and Hermione could see that she had successfully ignited a spark of determination in him, even if it were at her own expense.
A thud sounded from outside the door, followed by a bit of shuffling. Madam Pince must be coming to check on them. "I think we should do some research, try and find a way to close off the Link." Hermione lowered her voice.
"You can do research-" he corrected with a sneer.
"No, what part of we are in this together did you miss? We need to sort this out as soon as possible, and with double the man-power, the faster we'll find a solution." Hermione stated firmly.
It was almost fascinating to watch the struggle of their argument flicker across his face. His mouth tightened, his brow twitched, then they shifted into an annoyed glare as he realized he was fighting a losing battle.
"Fine," he said, albeit unhappily. "We'll meet in the library tomorrow after lunch, we should get more work done if we divide and conquer."
Hermione winced, "I don't think that's a good idea. Remember what happened the last time we were seen together?" She was of course referring to the school newspaper's article about their supposed "love fiasco." Malfoy cringed as well, and then suggested something that had her instincts screaming at her.
"So we come here after hours, then."
Alarm bells went off in her brain. First off, it definitely did not seem safe to be in such close confines with Malfoy for a long period of time. Second, it did not seem safe to be with Malfoy alone. She, for one, didn't doubt his loathing towards her, and wouldn't be surprised if when she showed up for research he 'divided and conquered' her dead body instead.
Hermione immediately recoiled from that mental image, completely shocked at where her mind had taken her. "What? No! If we get caught we'll be in big trouble and-" she began to list off all that was wrong with the idea- save the murder bit- and-
"If we get caught, Granger, which we won't." He smirked at her. Hermione exhaled loudly in an expression of her annoyance.
"You're forgetting that we have detention for the next nine nights," she pointed out, triumphant when she saw his face fall. "By the time we do all of our homework and get back from detention it'll be late, and I am not going to lose any more sleep over this." She stated firmly.
"I suppose I'll see you here tomorrow morning then, bright and early." The smirk was back and as infuriating as ever, only widening when Hermione's eyes bugged out of her head.
"What?"
"Granger, dear, you've knocked out every other option, and if we want to get to the bottom of our Link and our so called love, we need to do some research, and we need to do it in the morning," He said carelessly, leaning in a little closer to the brunette. His cool, mint breath fanned across her face, tickling her nose and cheeks. "What's the matter? Afraid of being seen with me?"
Yes.
"No."
"Perfect. So we have a deal then?"
Grudgingly, Hermione stuck out her hand to meet his. His fingers wrapped around her small ones, and Draco was suddenly overwhelmed by her scent. Honeysuckle and vanilla, an oddly pleasing smell. He inhaled deeply before quickly letting go of her hand, trying to forget the warmth of her hand enveloping his cool one.
Draco didn't have time to dwell on it, as Madam Pince came barging through the door. The old oak frame hit the wall with a shuddering bang that cracked the glass in it. Silence ensued for about five seconds before the growling librarian shooed them out, ordering them to return to their respective houses.
The two teens booked it out, and as Hermione started for the staircase leading up to Gryffindor Tower, Malfoy called out with a smirk,
"See you bright and early, princess!"
Princess? Seeing Malfoy right at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning? More detentions to come? Hermione swayed a bit and grabbed onto the railing, watching as the young Malfoy strutted down to the dungeons.
She had a feeling that the days to come would only be much, much worse.
"You're coming in late," Blaise commented. Draco dropped into his designated chair in the Slytherin common room. It was his by right, he claimed it alongside his status as Slytherin's Prince, and no one else dared sit in it. Technically, Draco thought, someone had sat there one time, but that was Millicent Bulstrode, and he'd be mad if he tried to move her (the girl was heavy and terrifying, there was no budging her.)
"Detention," Draco said shortly. But of course Blaise already knew this.
"How's our resident beaver?" he smirked, glancing at Draco from over his crossword puzzle in the Daily Prophet.
Draco groaned. "What do you think?"
"You don't want me to answer that," Blaise casually crossed off one of the numbers and his eyes lit up. "What's a muggle form of transportation?"
Draco sat up, startled by the sudden, uncommon question for a Pureblood. "What?" he rubbed his head, having hit it against his chair in his surprise.
"Three letters, starts with a 'c'…" Blaise murmured thoughtfully, chewing on his quill. He spat out feathers a few seconds later, a cross look on his face.
The blond scratched his head. "You're asking me, of all people?" Really now, as if Draco Malfoy would know the first thing about muggle transportation.
Blaise shrugged. "Train?"
"That doesn't have the letter 'c' in it, you idiot."
"That's all I've got then, my ideas have been retired," Blaise replied glumly, apparently not noticing the stab at his intellect. Draco almost felt sorry for the kid, he looked so defeated. Almost. The other part of him- the majority- just laughed.
"Are you sure it starts with a 'c'?" Draco asked, leaning forward to peer at the crossword. Most of it was complete, Draco had to give him credit. But upon looking closer at it, he noticed several errors throughout the puzzle.
Draco sighed. Blaise had spelled 'cauldron' wrong, which in turn threw off the words 'quaffle' and 'wand'.
"Yes I'm sure, unless a small golden ball caught during Quidditch games isn't a snitch." Blaise said with a 'duh' expression on his face. Realizing a losing battle when he saw one, Draco gave up and leant back in his chair, his eyes slipping closed as he steepled his fingers.
Blaise raised an eyebrow. "That's a pensive look if I've ever seen one. What's on your mind?"
Opening one eye, Draco peered at his fellow Slytherin before saying slowly, "Nothing."
Knowing the Malfoy heir and recognizing the lie, Blaise leaned forward with a new found enthusiasm. His crossword lay abandoned on the floor. "Girl problems?" he said a little too excitedly.
"No," Draco responded harshly, but he had spoken too quickly. A smile grew on Blaise's handsome features, and Draco groaned.
"Who is it?"
"No one," said Draco firmly. Blaise didn't take the hint.
"Come on, something is obviously bothering you. Or should I say, someone?" Blaise wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. Draco always felt dizzy after watching Blaise do this. The dark brows would wiggle like caterpillars trying to climb off of his face. It was a frightening event to witness.
Suddenly, the eyebrow movement stopped. Before Draco could thank the heavens, he was immediately cursing, as Blaise had returned to his previous topic. "Hey, weren't you dating that one girl-?" he began, but Draco shook his head, already knowing what he was going to say.
"Ended that three weeks ago."
"What about that blond chick-"
"Ended that five months ago."
"But there was that one-"
"Ended that last year!"
Blaise pouted is faux misery. "You never tell me anything anymore. I'm always left to fend for myself," Poor, insignificant Blaise, Draco thought dramatically. "Unless…" Horror began to creep up on him as Blaise's eyes lit up once more and the eyebrow wiggling resumed. "It's Granger?"
Draco sat up abruptly in his chair. "Whoever said that I was having girl troubles? This has nothing to do with girls. Nothing at all." He tightened his tie, only to loosen it a second later. He then tried kicking off his shoes to portray a picture of ease, but he decided halfway through the process that he didn't want his shoes off, leaving him with one bare foot and another dressed.
Blaise smirked in triumph. "So it is Granger," he nodded slowly to himself as if it would help him process the information. He wiggled his eyebrows some more in thought. Draco shuddered involuntarily.
Taking his silence as confirmation, Blaise turned thoughtful. "Have you ever considered trying anything?" he asked seriously. Draco's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what I said," Blaise responded simply. "You know that there's a physical attraction between you two," he looked at Draco pointedly, whose face flushed lightly under his gaze. When Draco didn't deny it, Blaise continued. "All I'm saying is that you should try to, I dunno, stimulate that chemistry between you."
"What?! I don't have a death wish, Zabini, she'd skewer me! And then stand over me and laugh as she watched me bleed!" Draco cried in a panic. His face turned hot as he thought of all the things he and Granger could stimulate.
Oh, gods, think of something, quick. McGonagall in a bathing suit, Snape giving someone a lap dance. Snape giving a bikini clad McGongall a lap dance.
Third time's the charm.
"While that may be a likely outcome, you'll never know unless you try!" Blaise clapped his hands together cheerily. Seeing Draco's horror stricken face, Blaise adopted a softer tone. "For all you know, a sexual attraction may be the only thing the potion is referring to. Try something with her, then see how you feel afterwards. Then we'll know how valid this potion and love debacle is."
Knowing this would be a good plan but too worried about the repercussions, Draco rubbed a hand down his face. "This is too much work. I think I need to move to an island only populated by males. Girls involve drama." He groaned loudly.
Blaise smiled slyly. "I'm not sure you'd be comfortable with everything you'd have to do in an all male area."
Draco thought about this for a moment before he snorted. "You'd be surprised."
With that, Blaise fell to the floor laughing. He stayed down there for a little while, and Draco would occasionally break his stare from the fireplace to check and make sure his friend hadn't died of asphyxiation.
After a few minutes, Blaise reemerged, his eyes bulging slightly and his hands clawing at his throat. Draco allowed him another moment to gather his breath. "Kinky, eh?" Blaise managed to squeak in a strangled voice. It sounded like he had just broken out of a coffin and was attempting to speak for the first time in fifty years.
Probably what Dumbledore's bedroom voice sounds like, Draco thought dryly to himself. He then mentally kicked himself consecutively for several long moments for that thought. He felt as though a bucket of ice water had been thrown over his head. Yuck.
"If it doesn't work out with Granger, I'll join you in this male utopia. We can even be-!"
Blaise was cut off by Draco knocking him to the ground again. Some things were better left unsaid. As for Draco, he didn't need to conjure anymore disturbing mental images for the night.
"Hermione!" her name was called out the moment she set foot in the common room. With dread and an inkling of impatience, she whirled around, looking for the source.
It was a relief to find that the majority of Gryffindor had already retired to their dormitories for the night, save two lone figures sitting on an overstuffed sofa in front of the roaring fireplace. Sighing to herself, Hermione slunk over to them.
It was obvious that the two boys were aching to bombard her with questions, no doubt about the article and the ferret, two subjects she had refused to speak of all day. However, they kept their cool, which was surprising enough to say the least.
"Hermione," Harry said again, looking slightly calmer this time. He patted the seat in between him and Ron, who scooted over to accommodate her. Hermione shuffled over, nodding her head as a signal for them to ask away.
"What's going on?" Ron immediately blurted out. "Is Malfoy hurting or threatening you in any way? Did he make up the article? Is he making you feel unsafe? Has he touched you? Has he tried to touch you? How did you 'accidentally' spill a love potion on him-?" the red head burst, and Hermione shook her head and held up her hands.
"One question at a time!" she cried, suddenly overwhelmed and very tired. The two boys had the decency to look ashamed, and they both muttered their apologies.
"How about we start with the article," said Harry gently, and Hermione ran a hand through her hair, which promptly got caught in the tangled curls.
"First off, you should both know better than to think that me and Malfoy are involved in any way," she frowned, and again both boys mumbled unintelligent words in apology. "No, we aren't involved in an 'illicit affair'-"
"What about the Expedementia incident?" Ron butted in before Hermione could take another breath. Oh, that. The raven haired boy was staring at her, curiosity reflected in his eyes.
"That was an accident," she tugged at her hand, which was still caught in her hair. It was pulling on that one piece that was wreaking havoc on her roots- "And everything that happened after that didn't mean anything-"
"Woah, what happened afterwards?" Harry inquired in a new state of alarm.
As calmly and casually as she could, Hermione told them how she had spent the majority of the previous night with Malfoy in the hospital wing. It was out of sympathy, purely, she reassured them, decidedly leaving out the part where she actually found the Malfoy under the influence of the Expedementia…cute. If she didn't even understand that, how could she expect her two best friends- who had an even larger animosity towards the blond than she did- to comprehend it?
"I'm worried he is going to try something because of the whole Acamara Lotus potion," Harry frowned at the air in front of him.
She got up and stretched lazily. "You have to remember that anything he tries affects him too. The whole 'being in love' thing isn't exactly one sided, so he'd be hurting himself if he did try something."
Her spectacled friend muttered about how he wouldn't put it past the ferret, and then he got up as well, bidding her and Ron goodnight. Now that seemed like a good idea. Merlin knew that she would need to get some sleep before she had to deal with a snarky blond in the morning.
Ron's voice called out to her when she reached the staircase. "Hermione?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you really think he's attractive?" Ron wrung his hands in front of him. The brunette's eyebrows knit together. He was asking her if she thought Malfoy was attractive? What was this about?
"I hardly think that's an appropriate question-" she began, mostly because the answer was yes, she did find the Slytherin attractive. He was a bleeding blond Adonis dammit!
"So you do, then," Her old time friend said sullenly, his red hair literally lit up by the flames licking around the stones of the fireplace. Oh Ron...
The witch sighed- she'd been doing a lot of that lately- and shook her head. "Even if I did, his nasty personality would eliminate any physical attractiveness."
"Yeah, okay," he nodded, albeit a bit glumly. "Good night, Hermione."