Chapter 7 – attraction

Hermione rolled over to look at the clock. It was 6:15. She looked in her mirror and realised she had been sleeping, as she could tell from the frizz that had returned to her hair. She admired her own body for the woman she had become. 45 minutes later she grabbed her towel, wrapped it around herself, and headed to the bathroom. Draco was woken up by the slamming of Hermione's door. Bloody hell, what the fuck is she doing up this early, doesn't she sleep or something? Shit I'm really late He got up from his bed and let the covers fall away. He walked into the dorm naked and saw Hermione's leg entering the bathroom. He went back to his room, waited a few minutes, grabbed his towel, and quietly went to the bathroom.

~~~ Hermione was at the far end of the bath, so up to her waist she was in the soapy bath water, and water from above was trickling down her shoulders and chest. She was so immersed that she didn't know he had entered. Draco slipped into the bath and initially admired the slight curves of her body.

'We really need to stop bumping into each other like this Granger.' He pronounced loudly.

She froze, thinking about screaming, then calmed and covered herself.

'What the hell Malfoy?' said Hermione 'why would you sneak in here like that?'

She saw him as he waded towards her, giving her a chance to look at his body. He's ripped, god, he looks a lot better than Ron ever did…

'Draco stop there.' She put her had on his chest and felt how hard it was. She felt a sudden urge of passion. She leant in towards him to kiss him. ~~~

'Granger?' Malfoy's voice brought her back to reality, 'I said are you finished? I need a bath before school starts.' He was nearly shouting to her, as he was still stood on the side of the bath.

'Oh, yeah sure, just give me a minute to find my towel.' Hermione replied, seeming utterly confused…Oh my god, did I just imagine that she thought as she hurried past Malfoy on her way out.

He stole a glance at her behind as she left and then, shaking his head, he dropped into the bath and gave himself a quick scrub and headed back to his room to change. The pair dressed and bumped into each other in the common room.

'um sorry Draco.' Hermione said, not looking at Malfoy.

'Are you alright Hermione? You don't look yourself,' said Malfoy.

'um yeah, listen I've got to meet professor McGonagall so I won't be back until late,' wittered Hermione.

'Ok, see you whenever then,' Draco grumbled to her.

They spent the next few days rarely seeing each other, Hermione always seemed to be preoccupied and came in late and Draco was usually in bed or visiting Blaise in the slytherin common room.

Time flew by that week, and before either of them knew it, it was Saturday and Draco had a chance to sleep in.

Hermione however had other plans. She had a mountain of homework to do, prefect schedules to organise and letters to write to Harry and Kingsley. She got up at 8 am, quite late for her, sat by the fire and began working in the common room. She could hear Draco's soft snores now and again from her room and it made her giggle. She had completed the letters and schedules by the time Draco appeared in the common room. He was wearing some Slytherin jogging bottoms which had 'Weasley is our king,' written down the left leg. No matter how much Hermione had hated that at the time, it made her laugh now, and remember some of the good times with her old friends.

'Really Granger? Working on a weekend?' Draco said 'take a break, jeez I've barely seen you stop this week.'

'It's our last year Draco, I need good NEWTs if I want a good job so work starts from week one,' she chastised 'and I want a good job because unlike you, I didn't have a wealthy estate left for me.'

'Always so hostile Granger,' Draco calmly replied 'you know you'll do well anyway so no need to go crazy on the first day was all I meant.'

'I know, I know, sorry I snapped,' Hermione apologised 'I've just been so busy lately with everything, maybe I do need a break.'

'How about this, I'll get dressed and then we'll go to Hogsmeade for a bit?' Draco said.

'You know we're not allowed to Hogsmeade.'

'No-one will care even if they do see us Hermione, you're the greatest witch of our generation remember?'

Something about Draco excited her enough to break the rules. 'Yeah ok, but I need to change aswell and Draco, why are you helping me?'

'Okay, firstly, you look great, you don't need to change,' Hermione was wearing a pair of denim blue jeans and a knitted jumper that made her look cute, 'and secondly, you said we don't have to be friends, but I've changed and I honestly wouldn't mind that at the least…'

And with that he went to his room to change.

They left the castle at midday, Draco wearing some new jeans and a smart shirt, with a warm coat, and Hermione wrapped up in her coat, scarf and hat. They almost looked like a couple…

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