Chapter Nine: Cooking Up Some Peace

After a day of seeing Hermione Granger in every single one of his classes, he was about to rip his hair out!

The way she would scrunch her face while thinking, which he surprisingly never noticed before, and the way her eyes would light up while answering a question were fascinating to him, but he couldn't do a single thing about it!

Returning to their common room, he groans, slumps down on the couch and closes his eyes, falling asleep thinking of her soft brown eyes and curls.


A few hours later Hermione comes stumbling into the common room carrying, as usual, a stack of books that tower over her small frame. Seeing Draco asleep, she quietly makes her way up to her stairs and her room to dump her books.

After changing into a pale red jumper and her favorite worn jeans, she returns downstairs to the sleeping form of Draco Malfoy.

"He looks so peaceful while he's sleeping, almost like he's actually relaxed," she smiles but then catches herself, "Wait, Malfoy, relaxed? Yeah right," she scoffs, but then looks again. "But I suppose even he can look peaceful every once in awhile."

Shrugging her thoughts off, she shuffles barefoot into the kitchen.

"I'm going to make some cookies! I've been itching for them all day," she thinks, accioing her grandmother's recipe card that she had in her room and gathering the necessary ingredients.

With a pop, Dobby appears in the kitchen and looks up at Hermione.

"Can Dobby help Miss?" he quivers, eyes wide.

Nose scrunched, she responds, "Yes actually. Do you know where I can get some flour and sugar? All that I've found in here is chocolate chips, and a few other tiny ingredients."

"Yes miss, Dobby will go get some right away miss!" he grins, and with another small pop is gone again.

After returning with bags of flour much too large for the tiny house elf, Hermione begins creating the dough.

"Um," Dobby says, wringing his hands, "Can Miss show Dobby how to make cookies? They smell very good, Miss."

"Absolutely Dobby!" Hermione beams.

Twenty minutes later, three trays of dough are laid out with one in the oven already. Hermione is covered in flour; she had clearly gone overboard with creating the cookies and showing the enthusiastic house elf how it all worked.

Wiping her hands, she sets a small timer before walking into the living room, picking up a book and settling in the cushy chair across from the still sleeping Malfoy.


Before long, she is deeply engaged in her book, hair falling around her face, bent down to read it. Suddenly, she hears a shift from the couch across from her. Glancing up, she sees that Draco's face is no longer peaceful, but looks to be in pain as the boy squirms in his sleep, letting out a cry every now and then.

Shocked, Hermione sets her book down and makes her way over to the sleeping blonde.

"Malfoy?" she whispers, sitting on the edge of the glass table in front of the couch.

With no response, she tries again, "Malfoy?"

Sighing, she dares to reach a hand out and touch his shoulder.

"Draco! Wake up!" she says, voice louder.

With a jolt, the boy's eyes fly open, wide with fear.

Hermione quickly shuffles back to her chair and stares at the disoriented Malfoy sitting across from her.

"Are you alright Malfoy?" she asks, concern laced in her voice.

"Yeah," he grunts, "Thanks Granger."

Nodding, the timer starts beeping from the kitchen. With a grin, she jumps out of her chair and practically runs to the oven.

"Finally!" she laughs.

Eyebrows raised, Malfoy stands to follow her into the kitchen. Eyes lighting up at the sight of twelve freshly baked cookies, he reaches his hand out to take one.

"Wait!" Hermione says, smacking his hand away.

"What!" he responds, bewildered, "It's not like I was going to eat them all Granger."

Rolling her eyes, "Yes I know Malfoy, but they just came out of the oven and that means that they are HOT. So unless you would like to burn your hands, wait a bit!"

Raising his hands in surrender, he settles back onto the archway, watching Hermione slide another tray of dough into what he supposed was the oven.

Hermione then turns and looks at Draco, arms crossed nervously across her chest.

"Are-" she pauses, looking him dead in the eye, "Are you alright Malfoy?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Draco says, avoiding her concerned gaze.

"Okay..." she says, walking back over to her book and chair, settling into it.

Crookshanks suddenly appears after Draco settles back onto the couch, glancing at Hermione and then at the cat sauntering up to him.

Jumping up onto the couch, Crookshanks rubs up against Draco, beginning to purr.

"Granger," he says, panic in his tone, "your CAT is all up on me. Is it going to attack me or something?"

Glancing up from her book, she laughs, "No it means he likes you! I'm surprised; he usually doesn't like anyone but me, especially not boys."

Nervously, Draco begins to pet the cat, finding the fluffy fur to be surprisingly soft.


The relaxed silence is suddenly interrupted by a knock at the portrait door.

"Mione! You there?" the voice of Ginny Weasley rings through the painting.

Hermione stands and walks over to the door, opening it, Malfoy's eyes following her the whole time.

"Gin! Come in, I'm making cookies!" she grins, grabbing Ginny's hand and pulls her into the kitchen.

Draco just stays on the couch, petting the ball of fur on his lap and staring curiously at the two Gryffindors.

"Who thought I would ever be sitting here petting Granger's cat, while two Gryffindors laugh in the kitchen? I must be losing it." Draco shakes his head.

"So, Mione, did I really just see Malfoy petting Crookshanks, and dare I say it, smiling?" Ginny grins at the girl taking another tray of cookies out of the oven.

"Yes, it seems that Crookshanks likes him." Hermione responds, avoiding eye contact with the ginger.

"Alright sure," Ginny responds with a look that says 'this isn't over', "So what are you up to? Harry's gone off with the guys to do some Quidditch thing, and I'm bored."

"I'm just reading a book and making cookies, that's all."

"Well that's boring..." Ginny says, sauntering back into the living room and staring at the blonde, eyebrow arched.

"Little Red." Draco smirks.

"Ferret." Ginny grins.

Hermione walks back in, "I have an idea! We should watch a movie!"

Two eyes look up, confused, "A movie?"

"It's like moving pictures but longer. I managed to make my DVD player run on magic, so we could watch a movie!" Hermione responds before running up to her room to retrieve the player.

Ginny and Draco are left alone to glare at each other.

Walking close to Draco, Ginny whispers, "I know you fancy her, so go for it. She'll forgive you, you know." before settling back on the green unoccupied chair.

Eyes wide, mouth gaping, Draco splutters, "Bu- but I don't, I couldn't possibly- like.." he fades out, staring at the ground.

Shooting him a pointed look, Ginny laughs as Hermione returns with a small DVD player and a handful of movies.

"What would you guys like to watch? Something, funny, romantic, horror, or musical? I have more comedies than anything..." Hermione trails off.

"Whatever you want Mione!" Ginny chirps.

Grunting, Draco shifts in his seat, internally curious at this new device.

Hermione nods, placing a pink disc into the small machine and waving her wand, making a screen out of the nearby wall appear. She then returns to her red chair, glancing at her best friend and... enemy? No. Friend? Not yet. Acquaintance. Yes that's it, her acquaintance as the movie, Mean Girls begins on the screen.

Only pausing the movie twice to retrieve the remaining cookie trays, the three laugh along with the movie, simply enjoying the show.

"Wow, Draco-laughing at a muggle movie, along with me and Ginny? What is the world coming to?" Hermione thinks, "Wait, did I just call him Draco? No way." she asks herself, watching Draco's face light up in a laugh at the latest stunt pulled on the lit up screen.

Too soon for everyone's liking however, the movie is over and a sense of awkward takes over the room.

"Alright well," Draco stands, "I'm beat, so I think I'll go up to bed. Thanks Granger." he says awkwardly, shuffling over to his staircase.

Still sitting, Hermione responds quietly, "Yep no problem."

"Wait Malfoy!" Ginny interrupts.

Draco turns, eyebrow arched.

"Look, I was going to steal Hermione away to have a girl's night tonight. Do you mind?" she continues.

"Yeah sure go ahead..." Draco says, eyebrow still arched.

Hermione grins, "Hey Malfoy, since I'm leaving, do you mind cleaning up a bit in the kitchen for me? Just put the little recipe card in the box on my desk in my room."

"Um," Draco says, wide-eyed, "Sure."

"Thanks!" the girls squeal, running up to Hermione's room.

With a sigh, Draco walks over to the kitchen, seeing the piles of white powder and chocolate chips scattered across the counters.

"How the bloody hell am I supposed to clean this?" Draco wonders, rubbing his head.

"Bye Malfoy! See you tomorrow!" Hermione shouts from the common room, the slamming of the portrait door signaling the girls' departure.

Sitting, the blonde ponders his options, "I could use my wand to clean it, Granger never said I couldn't," but somehow, that seemed like something she wouldn't appreciate. Groaning, he puts his head in his hands.

"Dobby!" he shouts, lifting his head up with a grin.

With a pop the little house elf appears, "Yes? Can Dobby help you?"

"Hi Dobby. Erm-" he pauses awkwardly, "Can you help me clean all of this up-without magic?"

"Yes sir, Dobby will help you sir. Is this for the Misses sir?"

"Um sure Dobby," he responds, standing from his chair.

Half an hour later, the kitchen is spotless, save the small card lying on the granite countertop. Draco grins at his hard work, proud of himself.

"Thank you Dobby!" he grins at the house elf.

With a nod, the house elf dissaperates once more.

Sighing Draco stretches and picks up the small card sitting on the glass tabletop.

"Granger's room, this goes in Granger's room. Right." he thinks, making his way to the girl's staircase.

Nervously, he approaches the door labeled HG and swings the door open. He is met with the neat room of Hermione Granger, the only thing out of place being the covers on her large four-poster bed. Grinning at the colors on her blanket-Gryffindor red and gold of course, he rolls his eyes, and walks over to the crowded desk, searching for the box she mentioned earlier.

After setting the card in the box, a small notebook catches her eye. Unable to help himself, he picks the small book up, wondering what runs through Hermione's mind.

Sitting on the bed, he turns to the most recent page.

"There's something different about Draco this year. Harry and Ginny keep saying that he likes me, but yeah right! I'm just a mudblood right? And yet, he's been so nice to me and I don't know what to make of it.

Could I actually like him? The weird thing is, I see it being more and more possible with every passing day.

Wish me luck,
Hermione J Granger"

Stunned, Draco sets the book back on the desk and rushes out of the room, being careful to close the door and runs all the way back to his own room.

"She could maybe like me?" He grins incredulously before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep in his own comfortable bed of deep green and silver.


A/N: Jeez, could this have been any longer? I feel like this took forever!
Anyway, I hope it's good for you all.

S/O to all the reviewers, MacaqueAttack713, Sparkle15, and ANEwrites, thank you so much! I hope you are still enjoying it!

Thank you to all of you who have liked/favorited this story, it means a lot to me!

Until next time,
xx
Jess