Hermione and Draco: The Story That Changes Everything
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P.S. Me no own Harry Potter, me no own characters, JK own all
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Chapter Seven: Silence
"Hey, Hermione," Harry called across the Great Hall the next morning causing sever heads to turn.
She inwardly groaned, she hadn't really wanted anyone to look at her this morning. She felt... awkward to say the least. Though Peeves had kept his word and his mouth shut.
She still couldn't bring herself to even glance toward the Slytherin table because she might see him. She sat down in front of Harry and Ron.
It had been a week and a day since her kiss with Malfoy. She knew as she'd been counting the hours. Every waking moment there was something to remind her of him. A word, a sound, a smell. Everything led her thoughts back to Draco Malfoy. And she didn't think that was right.
It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that she, Hermione Granger, muggleborn witch and self proclaimed bookworm, had to have feelings toward him, Draco Malfoy, Slytherin badass and complete jerk.
She really had to do something about the way her thoughts were leading. Yesterday she'd caught herself as she'd started to daydream in Transfiguration class about Draco's lips on hers... and even now she began referring to him as Draco in her head instead of Malfoy.
She was driving herself crazy!
"Uh, Hermione," Harry said waving his hand in front of her face, "Weren't you listening to me?"
"Oh, no, Harry, I'm sorry," Hermione moaned, snapping back to the present. Ron and Harry were watching her carefully, looking at her as if she'd contracted a disease or something. "It's just that I've been so sidetracked lately and I've been having these... problems and..."
"Say no more," Ron insisted suddenly, putting up a hand as if to ward off something, "I get it completely."
"You do?" she frowned.
"Yeah. You've got the... girl problems. We get it. It happens every month, no biggie."
Then she realized what he'd begun to think. She opened her mouth to correct him but then suddenly shut it. Better they think she'd been having cramps and such than her real problems. They'd freak if they knew...
"Yeah, uh, sorry guys."
"It's all good, Hermione," Harry insisted, taking a bite from his bagel, "But back to what I was trying to explain to you..." He went off on a long explanation of why he shouldn't have to write that essay Snape had set as punishment for talking in class.
She saw Draco across the room. Pansy was cozied up to him, whispering something into his ear that made him grin and nod.
For some reason it angered her.
Finally, she said, "Just write the damn thing, Harry." She stood and stormed out, frustrated and annoyed.
Harry looked over at Ron for explanation.
Ron shrugged and went back to his breakfast, "Girl problems, most likely."
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For the past week, and the next, whenever Malfoy passed them in the halls he uttered no insults and said not a word, avoid any of their gazes, particularly Hermione's.
Ron and Harry hadn't really noticed that first week but when it went on to the second they began to pick up on it a bit.
"Did you see the way he went to keep extra far away from us?" Ron asked a few days later as they studied in the library.
"Yeah, he went the long way around just to not pass us," Harry said shaking his head, "Maybe he's gone bonkers. Finally."
"Nah, he's got a good reason," Ron figured, doodling on his parchment that was supposed to be a five thousand word essay on why ghosts haunt things and/or people.
"You think?" Harry asked, shutting his Charms book.
"Yeah, you know Malfoy. He doesn't do anything without a reason."
That made Hermione frown, but they didn't notice.
"But what could it be?" Harry wondered, partially to himself.
Ron shrugged, "I dunno. But there is one, especially by the way he keeps giving Hermione those glances behind her back. I really cant figure what he's thinking when he does though, he sort of keeps a straight face as he stares at her."
"Wait," Hermione interrupted suddenly, "Malfoy stares at me?"
Ron and Harry looked at Hermione, slightly surprised, remembering that she'd been there the whole time.
"Oh, uh, yeah, he does," Ron muttered, scratching his head.
"It's kind of creepy," Harry added, "We thought you knew..."
"Well I didn't," Hermione said, impatiently. "You really have to tell me these things, you guys, I don't have eyes in the back of my head!" she snapped her book shut, then pulled out a quill and parchment scroll.
"Well, I could have sworn you did when you slapped me this morning for making faces at you when you lectured us about magical creatures," Ron muttered darkly.
"Oh, come off it," Harry said to Ron, "You're just mad because she was right."
"Unicorns do too have greens eyes!" Ron insisted, shoving Harry in the shoulder, "I've seen one with my own two eyes."
"Then maybe you're the one who needs glasses," Harry said, shoving back at him.
Hermione snapped her fingers and they stopped to look at her. "Guys, we are in the library. Do you want her to come over here and curse at us then throw us out?" she asked, "because if she does I'll be very angry."
They both quick settled down to their studies and left Hermione alone to her thoughts.
So Draco was actually looking at her. That was a small relief, she didn't know why, but it was.
Maybe it was because she had these growing feeling toward him and she currently knew he was avoiding her purposely. That hurt a little, but the truth was that she was avoiding him as well.
They both existed together in relative silence and even that was taking its toll.
How long would it be before one of them finally... snapped?
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NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
So when do you think one of them will break loose????
Wait and see...
I'll post the next chapter... if I get some more REVIEWS!
Sorry, I'm a bit cranky...
--- Ashley
