Song Rec: Make A Shadow - Meg Meyers

"Granger?" an angry, familiar voice filled the room and the witch stilled. Turning around slowly Hermione laid eyes on Draco Malfoy…her newest tutee. This was not her idea of help from Dumbledore.

Hermione stared at Draco, her mouth agape at the shock of this entire situation. She was face to face with someone she knew had sent a cursed necklace to the castle. That same necklace had inadvertently almost killed Katie and landed her in St. Mungos for the unforeseeable future. Hermione suddenly felt like throwing up this morning's breakfast as she watched Draco move into the classroom towards her. Unconsciously, her hand wrapped around the wand in her pocket. How dare he come in here as if nothing had just happened?

"I refuse to be tutored by you."

Hermione's right eye twitched in annoyance but decided she needed to get this situation to her advantage. Regardless of how stupid she found Dumbledore's help to be, it was an opportunity. "You're far behind in two classes and I'm the only person capable of catching you up."

"I find that hard to believe," the blonde wizard scoffed with a roll of his icy eyes.

"I know you're shocked at the thought of a muggleborn teaching a pureblood but we have things to go over so take a seat," she couldn't help but throw an insult at him for good measure. He needed to know she wasn't going to waste her time arguing with him.

"Who do you think you are talking to me like that?" he dropped his bag onto a table as he stepped towards her.

"I'm the person that's going to make sure you don't fail your classes this term."

"I can manage on my own. I can't believe I even came here," Draco mumbled curse words to himself as he turned to gather his things.

"You're acting like I want to be here. Like I chose you."

"You would be lucky to even have me as a choice."

"Do you ever stop? Let's get this straight, you're a waste of space and I would rather snog a snargaluff plant that choose to be anywhere near you. You're a slimy git that doesn't deserve any of the effort the Professors are putting into you." Draco stared at her, his eyes on fire.

"You don't deserve to even be here." The words were harsh and barely managed to slip from Draco's tense jaw.

"Excuse me?" she willed him to give her a reason to attack him. She had realized in her verbal attack she had walked so close she could see his pale eyelashes.

"You're a filthy Mudblood that is unworthy of magic. I hope you realize how many people at the school hate you and want you gone."

Hermione wanted to be upset and punch Draco in his face but his words had struck a chord. But she refused to let him see her waver. With the war looming over her life she was starting to realize that her blood status might be the death of her. She no longer felt safe in Hogwarts with people like Draco Malfoy who were born with an unexplainable hate towards her. In her first two years, Hermione had tried so desperately to ignore the depressing train of thought but it was difficult when her environment constantly reminded her of her tainted blood. She had gotten over her trepidation quickly but despite herself, she let a bully weaken her confidence with weightless words. Now, insults about her blood status would be more than words…it would be curses from a wand.

"Is it because I'm better than you?" she asked, her voice small but her words hitting him like a ton of bricks. In his sleepless nights Draco often blamed himself for not being as smart as the Gryffindor Princess. She, of all people, would find a perfect way to complete the mission handed to her. Ever since his conversation with Blaise, his mind had been spinning with 'what ifs' and uncertainties. Her words hit a place in his head that had already been ruminating over the idea of her worth. It was so much easier to scream in her face how worthless she was than to admit for even a second he envied her. "Is that why you hate me so much?"

"You wish that was why. You're an annoying, insufferable bitch," his tone rough as he stepped forward, his height coming to his advantage. "If I could, I would send you to St. Mungos."

Hermione's hand rolled into a fist as she let out a low growl. "I'm not the first person you'll have sent there," she dared him to deny it. If she hadn't been watching for it, she would have never noticed the flick of fear in his eyes. "Or am I wrong?" she asked, seething with anger.

"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about. Has Potter been feeding you his bullshit again?"

"Just like the bullshit your father feeds you?" she quickly retorted, not missing a beat. His eyes were a storm of conflicted emotions before he turned away swearing under his breath.

"I'm going to leave before I hurt you beyond repair, Granger."

It was so unlike Draco to walk away from a fight and Hermione was still enraged at how dismissive he had just been. She watched him walk away from her and the anger inside her built quickly. So she did something stupid and childish but at the moment it felt amazing.

"What? Are you afraid of me?" she raised her wand and whipped a curse past his shoulder. He turned around in shock and nearly stumbled into a table.

"You bitch," she stood her ground as Draco dropped his bag and quickly raised his wand, throwing a Stupefy at her with strength. She managed a shield charm but was thrown off balance by the force of his curse.

"Avis! Oppugno!" she shouted and a flock of small birds flew down, taking Draco off guard as they swooped down to attack him. He managed to protect himself from the majority of the beaks but Hermione could see a few bloody peck marks of his hands. They continued back and forth with fervor, their breaths fast and heavy.

"CRUCIO!" the words fell from his mouth with ease. She deflected his curse with a shield and the severity of the words registered in her mind. The silence in the room was palpable as Hermione paled and Draco backed up against the door. His eyes were filled with immediate remorse as he stared at her. His mouth opened as if to apologize she shook her head.

"Y-you…" she started, at a loss for words. It didn't take long for her to regain her voice. "What's wrong with you?" The words played in the air for a few moments before Draco picked up his bag and swiftly exited the room. Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes and she just let them fall.

Authors Note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I wrote this chapter twice and the first way was completely different from this version. I prefer this version better seeing as Draco and Hermione are still at odds with each other. This is a bit short but next chapter they will be forced together again before holiday break! Please review when you get the chance (: See you sooon!