Chapter 10

"Did you think about having an About Me session with Granger?"

"No."

"Give it a try."

"Why are you so interested anyway?"

Blaise sighed. Draco had brought up the topic of their assignment, and Blaise had a feeling that he had wanted to talk about Hermione. Therefore, he had clearly meandered the conversation in that direction, only to be met by fierce resistance.

"You are making this seem like a much bigger deal than it really is, you know. I'm getting kinda sick of all your complaining and whining about Granger, and you've only had one session. Grow up, Draco."

"No, seriously Blaise. Why are you taking her side? If you were in my place would you even try to…hell, look at her?" Draco questioned, as they walked down the corridor.

"I'd at least make an effort to."

"No, you wouldn't."

Blaise stopped abruptly and turned toward Draco. "And what makes you think that?"

"You have a thing against mudbloods. Just like me," Draco shrugged, not noticing the change that had come about in Blaise's expression.

"No, you're the one who has a 'thing' against mudbloods. They're not my best friends, agreed, but you're the one who hates them with such passion. You're the one who can't stand them. I can look at them, carry on a conversation, but you have to act as if the sight of them mortally wounds you. I put up with these…prejudices only you're my friend. My best friend. But you know what? Right now, I don't know whether you think I'm your friend or a some crony like Crabbe and Goyle. Right now, you're just too wrapped up in yourself. Right now, all you care about is the Granger who said hello to you."

Blaise turned and walked away quickly, leaving a thunderstruck Draco Malfoy behind him.

Xooxoox

"She is the most infuriating thing ever! All she does is shriek and shriek and whine and whine and simper and simper! Argh!"

"Calm down, Ron." Hermione sighed, looking up to see her best friend pacing before her in the common room.

"Calm down? It's Pansy Parkinson! Yuck!" Ron involuntarily shuddered.

"I have Draco Malfoy." Hermione offered, by way of consolation.

"So?"

Hermione sighed again. She really didn't want to have that conversation. She picked up her book, and walked out of the common room. December had just begun, but the cold was evident. She shivered involuntarily, hunching her shoulders.

She walked out of the castle, and stopped for a moment. The grounds seemed to be inviting her, and Hermione almost ran to sit under an oak tree overlooking the lake. She smiled, and opened her book and began to read.

A little while passed before she heard someone behind her. At first, she didn't look up, being too preoccupied with her book.

"Hey."

Hermione looked up, to see Draco Malfoy.

"Hey." She replied.

He sat down next to her, drawing his legs up and clasping his hands around his knees.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Hermione asked, an eyebrow raised.

Draco shrugged. "I came out for a walk, to clear my head. Saw you here, so figured I'd might as well talk to you."

"About what?"

"I don't know. You, me…"

Hermione didn't say anything, thoroughly confused.

"I'm Draco Malfoy. I'm 15, and I'm an only child. My favourite subject is Potions, and my favourite sport is Quidditch. Actually, I'm not really sure about what my favourite subject is."

"What are you trying to say, Malfoy?"

"I'm trying to tell you about myself."

"I don't understand why."

"That makes two of us."

They sat in silence for a while.

"I'm Hermione Granger. I turned 16 in September, and I'm an only child too. I love all the subjects I take, and my favourite sport is basketball."

"Basketball?"

"You'll learn of it in Muggle Studies."

"Ah."

A sudden gust of air blew, and Hermione shivered yet again.

"You're not wearing a jacket," Draco said reprovingly, glancing at her bare arms.

"No," Hermione agreed.

"You should go back inside, then." Draco said, getting up and shoving his hands deep into his pockets.

Hermione glanced at him. "Aren't you going to be a gentleman and offer me your jacket or something?" she joked.

Draco's eyebrows shot up a mile. "I might be a gentleman, but I hardly think we've reached that level of familiarity, Granger. See you around." He turned around and trudged back toward the castle, and leaving Hermione stunned.

What could he mean by this behaviour? Hermione thought. One minute he's nice, another nasty, then he's formally introducing himself, then I thought he cared about me feeling cold, and now he doesn't! What is her playing at? Serves you right for being overly friendly. There's something going on.

She shook her head, and waited for a moment, peeking over her shoulder to see whether Draco had gone on far enough, before getting up slowly and following him.

Xooxoox

Draco couldn't understand. He had no idea why Blaise had shouted at him and no idea what had possessed him to go and talk to Granger when he'd seen her sitting there.

He was just so confused.

Prejudices. That was what Blaise had called his hatred: prejudices. Okay, fine. Maybe he was prejudiced. But didn't just the thought of having someone so lowly, so degrading, learn magic repulse him? He paused, and cocked his head to a side.

He inhaled and exhaled slowly. No, it didn't.

He continued on his way. What had Blaise meant? Blaise knew that Draco preferred him to Crabbe and Goyle; hell, he preferred Blaise to the entire damn school.

Why was Blaise so insistent that Draco get to know Hermione? Did he like her? Surprisingly, just the thought of it brought a grimace to Draco's face.

Shouldn't he go and talk to him? See what he meant, listen to him?

No. Blaise had shouted at him…Draco's pride would not allow him to go talk to Blaise.

Frustrated, and more confused than ever, he sat down against a pillar and looked at the setting sun.

It was in this state that she found him.

xooxoox

I'm going to be positively evil (if that's possible...) and leave you on a cliffy.

Ahahah don't worry though. You'll have the next few chapters by the day after!

Leave me some Reviews? :D

xxx