Chapter 7
'Don't you look happy', Hermione said as she met Malfoy the next day.
Malfoy glared at her. 'Shut your mouth', he said.
Hermione blinked. She hadn't intended to make him mad, but well, it obviously had been a dumb idea to try and have a bit of fun.
'I actually don't have time to hang around with you today', he said. 'Got stuff to do, and well, I had to endure hanging out with you almost the entire day yesterday, so…'
Hermione shrugged. 'Yeah, it's fine. But listen, about the quidditch match next sunday…'
He closed his eyes, opened them again and rolled them. 'You're not asking me to be going there with you together, are you?', he said, annoyed.
'Erm, well, yes.'
It would be perfect; it was Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw and she knew Ron would hate having to see Draco and her watching the match. Plus, if Malfoy had to go and pretend to be with Hermione, he wouldn't get the chance to taunt the Gryffindor team.
He sighed. 'I don't really got time. But fine. If you leave me alone the rest of the week.'
'Okay', said Hermione. She actually could need a little time-out from Malfoy.
'Are you busy saturday as well?'
He nodded. 'Why?'
'Not going to Hogsmeade?'
'No.'
'Okay, cool', she said relieved, 'cause I'm going, but it's fine if you don't come along. Just tell everyone you didn't have time to go. If you and I went seperate, that would look stupid.'
He nodded and made a face.
'Is it all then, Granger?'
He looked tired and exhausted.
'Yes', she nodded, 'but make sure that if-'
'if we meet on the corridor, I'll knuddel you and everything.', he said, bugged. 'I know.'
'Good. Bye then.'
She turned around and went away, wondering how long this should go on like this. At least Malfoy cooperated rather well. Better than she'd imagined at least.
VVVV
It was quite relaxing to have a break of hanging out with Malfoy. Slowly, everyone seemed to accept they were a couple, and when they met on their ways through the castle, Malfoy always was rather gentle. Sometimes even kind.
Of course, when noone was around, he thoroughly ignored her, but actually, Hermione liked it better that way.
For some reason, though, sometimes she almost forgot it was Malfoy she was talking with. He reminded her rather often of his rudeness and what a git he was, but in between, he could be rather nice.
For about two seconds.
And then he would be rude again.
But it was better than nothing.
She still hadn't found out what Malfoy had been up to lately, and in how far he was involved with Katie Bell; as far as she noticed, he did nothing suspicious.
VVVV
Either way, the visit to Hosmeade without him was simply wonderful. It made her feel as if nothing had changed – she hung out with Harry and Ron, and all was fine, they didn't even mention Malfoy, something she was Ron very thankful for. Everything was nice – until Lavender showed up, and Ron went off with her.
Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes as she glared after them. She turned to Harry but he was distracted and looked in a complete different direction. She followed his gaze, and noticed Ginny with Dean.
She took his hand. 'Shall we get going?'
He nodded, grimly. 'Yeah, I don't really feel like staying here any longer.'
As they were on their way back up to the castle, Harry turned to her again.
'And I'm sure you cannot wait to see your lover again.'
'Oh, please, stop this', she said. 'How's Ron feeling about this affair lately?'
Harry shrugged. 'No changes. I think he's mad, but that's what you wanted him to be, isn't it?'
She bit her lip. 'I didn't want him to be mad, just… I don't know. It's all pretty weird.'
Harry snorted. 'Well, I don't want to say it's your fault, but…'
'Yeah, I know, I'm an idiot.'
She hesitated. 'But you know, at times, it's sort of odd… I mean, I gravely dislike on Draco, and he's a git, but sometimes I actually quite enjoy not sitting in the library all alone. You know, when he behaves decent for once.'
He looked at her. 'I didn't know Malfoy could behave decent', he said, his voice rather cold.
'Yeah… I don't know. I guess we both don't want to make things more miserable for each other. So we behave. Both. I don't know. Maybe I should simply stop this right now.'
Harry didn't say anything.
'I mean, I could say, Malfoy and I broke up, couldn't I?', she added thoughtfully.
'You could do that', Harry replied.
'But it would only show Ron I'm really not capable of a longtime realtionship…'
'It could', Harry said.
'What shall I do?'
Harry shrugged. 'Well, if Malfoy is such a pleasant company as you say…'
'I didn't say he was pleasant. I said, occasionally, he's no git.'
'Right, that's what I meant.' Harry groaned. 'I don't know, Hermione. I told you, you were just complicating everything.'
They turned silent. Hermione figured Harry was probably busy with thinking about Ginny and Dean. Maybe she shouldn't bother him with Malfoy.
VVVV
'Good luck, Harry', Hermione said. Harry grimaced. 'Thanks. Have you seen Ron?'
Ron hadn't joined them for breakfast. He was either really nervous or busy with Lavender. Hermione shook her head.
'D'you know where Malfoy is?', she asked.
'No idea. Well, see you after the match, Hermione.'
She nodded, and tightened her scarf. It was starting to get colder.
'Hi.'
She looked up. Draco.
She tried a smile. 'Hi.'
He wasn't wearing a scarf, but at least he had left his "Weasley-is-our-king"-badge in his common room. In spite of her arguments with Ron, she didn't want him to get teased during the match – especially not by Malfoy.
'I can't believe I agreed sitting in the Gryffindor crowd', Draco said as they were looking for seats.
Hermione shrugged.
'I'd never have thought to sit next to a, how do you call yourself, pureblood during a quidditch match', she said. 'Oh, wait, actually I have already', she added coldly.
Draco raised an eyebrow. 'If you mean Weasley…'
'Watch your tone', she said sharply. He shrugged, turned silent and stared at something behind her. Hermione turned around and noticed the teachers were making their way up to their seats. Snape and Hagrid gazed at them, while McGonagall, after looking at the unfamiliar couple for a second, looked straight forward again.
Hermione sat down, and Draco followed her.
'So', she said, after a while of silence, attempting some casual chat, 'I guess you'll support Ravenclaw?'
He shrugged. 'I'm rather neutral.'
'Ravenclaw is three points ahead Slytherin', she informed him, 'while if Gryffindor won…'
'Yeah, it would be better for my house's sake if Gryffindor won, I know', Malfoy said on edge. 'But honestly, I don't really care.'
Hermione laughed. For some reason, she quite enjoyed picking on Malfoy. 'Well, here they come, darling.' He snorted silently.
When the match started, Hermione, who cheered amongst everyone else, and Draco, who, his arms crossed before his chest, stared rather bored down on the pitch, not showing any kind of emotion, did not talk at all.
Sometimes, when Gryffindor scored, she would turn to him to cheer with him, and then she realised it was Malfoy she was sitting next to, and she would turn back again.
After Ron had let in three easy shots, she heard Malfoy starting to hum "Weasley is our king".
She gave him a dig with her elbow, and, to her astonishment, he turned silent.
Ravenclaw played outstanding this day. After almost an hour, Hermione checked the score nervously. 200 versus 50 points for Ravenclaw. Even if Harry caught the snitch, they would be square.
Gryffindor scored, and the crowd started to cheer, but Hermione was distracted by Harry who seemed to have spotted something in the air. If he caught the snitch now, Gryffindor would win…
But then, as she looked out for the quaffles again, she noticed Ravenclaw was ahead, their chasers flying towards Ron's hoops, the Gryffindor's beaters busy with keeping the bludgers away from Harry…
One bludger hit Ron's broom. Hermione flinched as Ron struggled not to fall of, and, at the same moment, the quaffle flew through the air, right towards the hoop.
Her eyes drifted to Harry who did not seem to have noticed Ravenclaw was about to score; he stretched out his hand to catch the golden ball, and nervously, she looked over to Ron.
The crowd which had just been cheering turned all silent.
He was on his broom again, and his arms reached for the ball… And he caught it.
In the same second she heard Madam Hooch's whistle; Harry had caught the snitch, the game was over, 210 points versus 200 points for Gryffindor.
And she forgot who it was she had been accompanied with this match, she whirled around, and gave Draco a big hug.
They remained in the position for a few seconds. Draco looked at her, quite startled. 'Erm.'
Around them, people started piping and howling.
Hermione turned red.
'Well, congratiulations', Draco grunted.
'Thanks', she said, her voice high.
'Uuuh, Hermione, so it's not only quidditch you're lucky with currently', someone called from behind. She tried to ignore it.
'Well, I'll go celebrating then', she said to Malfoy.
He nodded. 'Bye.'
'Bye.'
As they parted, people around her were making all sorts of comments.
'The dreamteam is departed now? How sad!'
'Hey, Granger, if you guys get married will it be Muggle- or wizardstyle?'
'Don't you want to go with him, Mione? I heard it's quite cosy down in the dungeons.'
She tried not to listen.
She had to get through this.
She'd never imagined, that those comments were worse than the hanging out with Malfoy.
But compared to the stuff she had to listen to half of the day, the time she spent with Malfoy, was truly agreable.
I've got to have you closer now/endless romantic stories/you never could control me
