Author's chapter notes:
HIIIII. So I've been really busy. Again. And I had no time to write. But here it is now! AND it's all in one scene. Yay, new accomplishment! And look for another METAPHOR. Because I just love those. Enjoy :D
Hermione was tossing clothes all over her floor.
"It could be anywhere," she sighed. She kicked her trunk in frustration.
"Granger, shut up!" a voice demanded underneath the floor. Hermione turned around and spotted her Gryffindor scarf lying on her bed. She rolled her eyes. I spent all this time looking for it, and it was here the whole time! She grabbed it and scurried out of her room and down the stairs.
"In a hurry, Granger?" Malfoy snorted. "Late for detention?"
"Of course not! I've never gotten detention."
"Except that time in first year, as I recall, when I caught you." An arrogant smirk stretched across his face.
"That doesn't count, because you got it too."
He snorted again. "Where are you going, honestly?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Quidditch match. Gryffindor against Ravenclaw."
"Ah. I suppose I should come along then, shouldn't I? Being the captain of the Slytherin team, I need to scout out the competition. Even though there really isn't any." The smirk morphed into a half smile once again.
Hermione glanced heavenward for the second time that day.
"Harry said that Gryffindor's really good this year," she argued.
"How should he know? It's all relative. You could have the greatest team ever, but another team could be better." He grabbed his scarf, hat, and coat and opened the portrait hole, holding it open for Hermione to pass.
Hermione noticed a mood shift in him. For a brief moment, Malfoy's walls had crashed down. He was chatting about something he really enjoyed, so nothing else mattered at the moment. Not egos or blood or Slytherins or Gryffindors or Death Eaters.
Maybe it could be good if I watched the game with him. I could find something out for Dumbledore!
"Granger?"
Hermione snapped out of her thoughts and realized Malfoy was still holding the portrait for her, and she hadn't moved.
"Right. I just didn't realize that you could be nice," she remarked.
"I'm not being nice. I just have manners," he replied almost playfully.
She stepped out of the portrait hole and they headed towards the Quidditch Pitch.
"But," he continued about the Quidditch conversation, "You could have a pathetic team win the Quidditch Cup if all the other teams are even more pathetic. So, really, Potter should have absolutely no idea how good the Gryffindorks are this year."
Hermione nodded.
"That actually makes sense," she commented.
"Surprised?" He arched an eyebrow.
"What?"
"That you can agree with a Malfoy?"
"Yes, actually. But not just any Malfoy. Only you, really," Hermione said in a light tone to try to come off as casual. He chuckled slightly.
By that time, they had arrived at the Quidditch Pitch. Roaring fans filled almost every seat. The players had already been announced and were flying to formation.
Hermione climbed the stands to the top row of the Gryffindor section. Much to her incredulity, Malfoy followed.
No one will see us up here, she assured herself.
"Good spot, Granger. Now, none of the bloody Gryffindorks will bother us."
Hermione smiled.
"And now, the first Quidditch match will begin, Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor," Luna announced in a daze. Cheers erupted from the crowd. "The Bludgers and the Snitch are released. The Snitch is worth 150 points."
"Go Harry!" Hermione cheered. It was Malfoy's turn to glance heavenward.
"Madam Hooch releases the Quaffle, and the game shall begin," Luna stated absently.
The players zoomed past each other in a frenzy. Ginny came out with the Quaffle and raced toward the hoops. She shot, but Ravenclaw's Keeper blocked it.
Throughout the game, Hermione noticed that Gryffindor didn't score many points, but their new Keeper was very agile. Even though she didn't know much about Quidditch, she could tell this much from the game. It will be a Seeker's match, she decided, thinking about when Gryffindor would play Slytherin. She glanced at Malfoy, who was intently studying each team and scribbling notes furiously on a piece of parchment.
Even Harry doesn't put that much effort into being Quidditch Captain.
Once again, Hermione felt that twinge of admiration for Malfoy. Like her, he worked hard. Even though it wasn't school work, he was preparing and studying for something he really cared about. She could definitely appreciate that.
"Malfoy?"
"Hmm?"
"When is the Slytherin versus Hufflepuff game?"
"Next Saturday," he answered, too focused on his notes to process what she was implying. When her question finally sunk in, he looked up with yet another smirk plastered on his pale features. "Why, do you want to come to see the show? The 300 point blow out by Slytherin?"
"I might, actually."
"Interesting, Granger."
Hermione directed her attention back to the match. Harry and Ravenclaw's Seeker were flying side by side and bumping each other. The game is going to be over soon, she realized. Now's my chance to talk to Malfoy.
"Malfoy?"
"What now, Granger?"
Bugger. Should I really ask? she contemplated.
"Have you ever-"
"And Harry Potter catches the Snitch for 150 points," Luna announced dreamily. "Gryffindor is the winner."
"Bloody Gryffindorks," Malfoy muttered. Hermione shot a glare at him. "What?" He threw up his hands in defense. "Gryffindor is the enemy!"
"So I'm the enemy?" she demanded, frustrated that she didn't get to ask her question.
"What? No, of course not. I meant Quidditch-speaking. Shouldn't the brightest witch of our age have figured that out?" he teased.
"She was just checking," Hermione replied.
Of course not.
Was she beginning to break down his walls? It may have just been a subtle remark, but Draco Malfoy had just implied that he thought of her as more than a Mudblood, and perhaps even more than an average acquaintance.
"Let's go, Granger. Or do you want to sleep out here?"
"Right." She followed him down the stands and began walking back towards the castle with the rest of the crowd.
"What were you going to bother me about before, anyway? Before Potter made his miraculous catch."
"Oh, that..." Ron wouldn't have ever noticed that.
"In a daze today, Granger? Are my good looks distracting you?"
"Sure, Malfoy."
Her eyes darted over to him. The wind was blowing his scarf and his ruffled blond hair. He is pretty attractive, she found herself thinking. Too bad he's still an arrogant prick. That'll never change. But lately I've started to get used to it. Hermione shook her head. Get used to Malfoy? Hermione Jean Granger, you are going mad, she scolded herself. Confidence is a good trait to carry though, she battled. Confidence? her head boomed. He's an arrogant, foul, rude, mean person! She shook her head again.
"You never did tell me what you were going to ask. Now, if you don't tell me, I'm going to pitch myself off the Astronomy Tower," Malfoy exaggerated.
"I was going to ask..." she hesitated. "I was going to ask if you ever really wanted to be a Death Eater."
She expected him to freeze, hex her, or push some first-year over. But her answered plainly and directly.
"Never."
"I'm sorry to intrude-" she began.
"Save it, Granger. At least you get what it's like." His tone darkened. "Not all glorious like my so called friends think. You were there."
She shuddered and subconsiously stroked her arm where Bellatrix Lestrange had carved "Mudblood" in it with her knife.
"Thank you."
Malfoy furrowed his brows.
"For what? Honestly, you make no bloody sense sometimes."
"For saving me, Harry, and Ron at the manor. You could have easily identified us.
"No one deserves the cruel punishments of Death Eaters. Not even Potter and the Wea- and Weasley."
In that moment, Hermione felt the claws in her chest. But this time, it was a new feeling. She suddenly felt qualms in her stomach and an unidentified object in her chest, almost paining her. Despite Malfoy's personality, Hermione knew one thing for certain.
She was starting to grow quite fond of him.
Author's end notes:
Predict what I am going to say. BROADEN YOUR MINDS and use Divination skills. Review, review, REVIEW! Please?
-expelliarmus-obliviate