First: I don't own the Harry Potter universe or characters.
Drabble challenge
Prompt: We'll trade, how about that? I give you the book, and you give me a kiss?
Rejection stings
Hermione was busy tidying up the books in the library, because quite frankly it was getting on her nerves; why didn't students bother to slip a book back into place, it wasn't rocket science. And yes, the books were charmed to organise themselves, but she'd noticed the charm wasn't working properly; some books with similar titles were getting placed in the wrong sections.
She'd have to bring it up with Madame Pince when the woman stopped yelling at-
"Hello, Hermione." One of the books in her hand was slipped out of her grasp.
Hermione froze. Oh no, please not him. She had thought he'd got the message by now. She turned around to find Cormac McLaggen was standing in front of her, leaning against one of the shelves. "…Hello, Cormac," she greeted tonelessly.
He smiled brightly, she faintly frowned; perhaps referring to him by first name wasn't a good idea. "I haven't seen you since Slughorn's party." He let out an easy laugh. "You aren't avoiding me are you?"
"No, of course not," Hermione forced a smile, trying to think of the best way to get rid of him. "I'm just very busy…Prefect duties are…exhausting."
He seemed to accept this easy enough-but the book he'd taken was still in his hand. "I bet. So I was wondering-"
Her stomach twisted in dread. Why had she asked him out in the first place? He was an arrogant asshole, and using him to make Ron jealous now felt so…..immature.
"-If you wanted to watch me practice my flying?" He leaned in a bit closer.
Watch him practice his flying? How was that even romantic! "I'm sorry, I still have work to do. Now I need that book back." Hermione held out her hand expectantly, his smile dimmed.
Cormac glanced at the book, then at Hermione, his lip curling upwards in a smug smirk. "We'll trade, how about that? I give you the book, and you give me a kiss?"
She involuntary backed away, remembering when he tried to corner her under the mistletoe, she scowled. "No, just give me the book back."
He stepped closer towards her. "Don't be like that, Hermione," he said, a flash or irritation appeared on his face. "It's just a little kiss…"
Hermione grabbed her wand, which was tucked into the waistband of her skirt, her eyes narrowing at him when he started closing in the proximity between them. She gritted her teeth. Cormac closed his eyes, lips pursed and five inches away from her face.
She whipped out her wand and hissed under her breath. "Confundo."
Cormac shuddered when the spell hit him, jerking away from her. Hermione grabbed the book from his slack grip and hurried off, tucking her wand back into her skirt waistband, while Cormac looked around drowsily.
She huffed in annoyance. 'I give you the book, and you give me a kiss?' honestly, what an arrogant sod.
