Chapter 8: The Other Diary
"By all means continue destroying my possessions. I daresay I have too many." - Albus Dumbledore.
Hermione moved through her room in a slight panic, looking for that stupid book. It wasn't under her bed, in her cupboard, on her vanity, in any of her drawers...
Maybe it's in my laundry basket, she thought desperately. Digging through it, she didn't find it. She sighed and gave up unwillingly, collapsing onto her bed.
Meanwhile, Draco had flipped to the second page. Being the Slytherin he was, he noticed the ruffled edge of a ripped out page, and he wondered what was there that Hermione didn't want anyone to see.
Day 4 with Draco Malfoy.
He met Jade and they hit it off almost immediately. They flirted a lot, though Jade believes I think that he's attractive, and I'm sure she thinks that we'll have some epic summer romance or something. If only she knew.
He admitted to trying to be civil with me, which I greatly appreciate. I think it'll make these holidays much easier, for both of us. Maybe if I could hold my tongue and let good opportunities fly past, these holidays will be semi fun? I don't know. Maybe I'm hallucinating.
I don't know if he's realised it, but he hasn't insulted me once yet. Maybe it's part of being civil? I don't know. I'll be listening hard to what he says, though, just in case he does. Then he'll be the Draco Malfoy we're all used to. Because honestly, this kind and new Draco is creeping me out a little.
I never thought I'd ever say it, but having Draco in my house is kind of amusing. He's a sort of fresh entertainment, for everyone. Oh, there's a creepy thought.
But I know Jade will want to know everything. What will I tell her?
Draco read through the book eagerly. It wasn't quite a diary, but it wasn't a log book, either. It intrigued him, especially since it was about him and it was written by Hermione.
He found an entry that looked interesting.
Day 13 with Draco Malfoy
I suppose... being unlucky thirteen and all... today should have sucked. But it didn't.
Draco was incredibly kind to me today. He opened all of the doors. Pulled out my chair for me at the dinner table. When we walked around town, he didn't point out stupid muggle objects like he usually would. He just gave me a look, a look that clearly said 'That's a stupid idea'. It amused me to no end.
Could I be... no. I'm Hermione Granger. He's Draco Malfoy. It's simple.
Besides, I'm stuck with him for another month, though this one's flying by...
Draco finished the entry. It wasn't as good as he thought it would be, though it made him curious.
He skipped the next few entries and ended up on the last one.
Day 20 with Draco Malfoy
Oh, this is a serious problem.
Draco Malfoy helped me pick my clothes.
I helped Draco Malfoy pick his clothes.
Draco thinks I looked attractive.
I think Draco is attractive.
Oh Merlin, what is wrong with me?
I'm
Draco looked around the page in confusion for the rest of the entry but gave up when it was obvious there was nothing. Maybe she just didn't finish it? his mind suggested. That displeased him. He wanted to know what she wanted to write.
Hermione jolted upright on her bed. She held back a yawn and stood quickly, not remembering the last time she went into Draco's room this late at night, not remembering to think before acting, but still immediately going over to Draco's room. It may have been four in the morning, she may have been sleep deprived, but she knew Draco would still be awake.
Reading her book.
She knew he had it.
Draco's heart leapt in surprise when door opened and Hermione strode in. He held the book close to his chest childishly, knowing that he had no chance of denying anything to do with the book.
Hermione smiled sweetly at him and sat next to him, trying not to snuggle into his warmth. "Nice book," she commented, though it was mostly hidden. "What's in it?"
Draco shifted a little, making the book easily reachable. "Curiosity killed the cat," he quoted. Hermione grinned.
"But satisfaction brought it back," she finished, then snatched the book out of his unprepared hands. He made a useless attempt to take it back, but she was expecting it, and dodged him cleverly. She crossed her arms against her chest and stood for the door.
"I've already read it," Draco said suddenly, hoping for a reaction - and a bad one, at that.
Hermione stopped. "Too bad you didn't find my other one, then," she bluffed and exited the room.
Of course, there was no other book and Hermione knew that. She was just... well, she was blushing. No one was supposed to read this book but her! Thank Merlin I didn't finish that entry, she thought.
Other book? Draco wondered. His mind had been reeling since Hermione had flounced out of his room. He wasn't sure whether the Gryffindor was pulling his leg or not; after all, that house was all about truth and loyalty and all of that.
But with Hermione... Draco wasn't sure.
"Well, there's only one way to make sure," he muttered.
He vowed to search Hermione's room.
"Hermione, I need you to go buy me these ingredients so I can bake," Mrs Granger said to Hermione across the table. Draco was barely listening as he ate his perfectly cooked bacon.
"Mum!" Hermione whined. "It's raining!" Mrs Granger looked out the window and sighed.
"No, it isn't, Hermione. But it will be if you put this off any longer. I'll give you the money and you can go, okay?" She walked away without waiting for an answer.
"You're coming with me," Hermione said as soon as Mrs Granger was out of earshot.
Draco seized the chance and immediately refused. "No I'm not." Her absence was too good of an opportunity to miss.
"Please?" she begged. "I hate going to the grocery store alone!"
"I hate going in there," Draco said flatly. "I'm not going."
Hermione was slumping in her chair when Mrs Granger returned. "Now, off you go, Hermione." Dejectedly, she slid off her seat and walked out into the dreary day, forgetting to take a coat.
"Draco, dear, if you wouldn't mind getting your dirty clothes and bringing them down into the laundry, that would be extremely helpful," Mrs Granger hinted. Draco nodded, swallowed his bacon and headed upstairs.
From his drawer he pulled out his wand. He waved it a few times and all of his dirty things landed in a neat pile on his bed. He grinned at the ease, at the familiar flow of magic through his fingers. He'd already forgotten how he survived without it all those years.
Hermione trotted down the road quickly, feeling the rain brewing in the air. She looked at the list in her hand.
Flour
12 Eggs
2 cartons of Milk
3 small (or 2 large) Lemons
1 punnet of Strawberries
Hermione sighed loudly but felt relieved when the grocery store was in sight. She picked up her speed.
Draco carried his washing down the stairs and placed it on the bench in the laundry next to the other clothes. With Mrs Granger no where in sight, he retreated back upstairs.
Hermione's door shined out at him, and he began second guessing himself. It was one thing to search her room under the cover of darkness, but it was another to do it in broad daylight, when her mother could walk in at any moment, and what excuses would he have for her then?
Oh, might as well do it now, Draco thought. He entered Hermione's spotless room and sat on the bed. There was nothing on the floor, nothing out of place on the desk.
If I was a book, where would I be?
What a stupid question.
"Accio Hermione's hidden book!" he murmured, but nothing came to him. "Damn. Old fashioned way it is, then." He started looking.
Now, eggs...eggs... what would Mum want? Oh, free range will do... Where's the flour?
Hermione turned on the spot and walked down the aisle. Raw sugar, brown sugar, flour, self-raising flour, powdered milk... Hermione backed up a few steps and picked a white packet of flour. With everything on her list she headed to the checkout. A woman in her thirties was watching her curiously, which made Hermione uncomfortable, but she ignored her as best she can. It didn't help that she was following her to the register.
Draco had nearly turned the room upside down searching for the book but he had come up empty. He figured he better put it back to its original state, but he couldn't be bothered. How could he summon the energy when he realised it had all been for nothing?
Hermione lied.
He knew, deep inside himself, that there was no book. He felt a little let down. He had had high hopes for the Gryffindor princess, and felt strangely empty knowing there was no point to his rummaging. He sunk onto her bed once more.
Hermione almost ran through the streets with her plastic bags because a little drizzle of rain was coming down. The sky had turned a dark grey and it made her uneasy. She may love the rain, but that didn't mean she liked being in it. Her house was in view when she felt the bag with the milk in start to rip. A petty problem, but it made her run. She knew she should have asked for it to be double-bagged. It completely broke apart on her front doorstep. Curse you! her mind muttered and picked up the now-shaken milk.
She opened the door and heard Draco moving about upstairs, the washing machine moving, the T.V on. She dumped the groceries on the bench with the change and stomped upstairs.
Draco heard Hermione coming up the stairs and panicked. Her room was still a mess and he knew she would know it was him. Who else would go through her stuff so carelessly? He waved his wand and all her belongings began floating through the air before returning to their original places. He knew it would take a while before it was completely clean, so he quietly left and shut the door. He waited in the hall for Hermione, sinking down to rest against her door. He was like a human barrier.
When Hermione came up the stairs, Draco pretended to look up in surprise.
"What are you doing?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Nothing."
"So why are you against my door?"
Shit, Draco's clever mind thought. "Missed your charming company," he smirked, "And sitting here made me feel close to you."
Hermione rolled her eyes and felt her suspicion leave her when she sat opposite him. Their toes touched.
"Seriously, that trip sucked. It started to rain on the way home. And the bags ripped."
"What torture," Draco grinned. "I had to give your mum my washing. That's gonna be embarrassing."
Hermione blushed on his behalf. "Been thinking of Jade too much?" Hermione teased. Draco shrugged and didn't comment.
Draco decided her room would be clean by now and stood. "By the way, you know that book you mentioned?" he asked casually.
"What about it?" Hermione asked.
"It'd be nice if I could read it." He flashed a charming grin at her then went into his room.
"Why don't you steal it, like you did the other one," Hermione muttered as his door closed.
Draco heard her and had to hold back a laugh.
