Hermione ate dinner at the professor's top table as always but tonight, sitting facing the entire body of pupils had suddenly made her very nervous. She and Draco had to not only to teach the 2nd years something useful about Transfiguration but they had to control them as well. It wouldn't help that Professor McGonagall would be watching them also. Hermione hadn't made her mind up if it was a good or bad thing that she was about to teach her very first class with Draco Malfoy. She decided she might have a clearer idea after their meeting tonight.
She popped back to her room after dinner to get changed then found Draco, who was already working in the study area of the communal room. He didn't look up at her when she sat by him but he spoke immediately, without any preliminaries.
"So, I thought we could start by getting them to all make their wand movements and we can go round and check that they are doing it right. Basic stuff, I know but it will prevent mishaps later. Longbottom's skill with a wand has never left me!" Draco said, the last part sarcastically and as much as Hermione loved Neville she couldn't help but chuckle because what Draco said was truthful.
"Yes, good idea. I think Professor McGonagall will like that," Hermione nodded and moved closer to read Draco's notes. Their shoulders were touching but Hermione wasn't aware of that until she realised that Draco had turned his head and was staring at her. "What? Why are you looking at me?" she asked.
"You're invading my personal space," Draco said. He sounded serious but Hermione remembered his comment from earlier when he said he was always joking lately.
Hermione answered him sarcastically. "I couldn't fight it anymore, I've finally given into your masculine charms." She wasn't sure what reaction she expected from him but it definitely wasn't the slow and breathtaking smile, she was bestowed with. She naturally found her eyes drawn to his lips and then she realised what she was doing and looked up again, feeling slightly embarrassed. Just for a moment she was aware of a shift in the atmosphere, almost imperceptible, but it made her stomach flutter. Then Draco spoke and it was gone.
"After testing their wand movements I thought we could give them a jar with five stones in. Each stone has to be changed into something different..."
"Too easy," Hermione interrupted him. "They should be able to Transfigure small insects and things now."
Draco pulled a face. "I know that, you didn't let me finish," he paused and she waved her hand to indicate he should continue. "So, stone one they change into a button or something simple, stone two into a feather, stone three into a beetle, stone four into a ladybird...you get the idea. They have to keep them all in the jar because that makes it trickier so it will challenge the more able students but it will still mean the less able ones can feel like they've done well. We'll make it clear that everyone may not be able to change all five stones..." Draco trailed off again because Hermione was staring at him open mouthed.
"Since when did you care about the less able students?" she knew she sounded incredulous but couldn't help it.
"Since I stopped being a spoilt, little brat. I know you still think I'm one but I'm not." Draco said but he didn't encourage her to question him further as he returned to his notes. Hermione took a moment to move her concentration back also and she wondered at his attitude tonight. He was acting strange and she couldn't put her finger on it. She had wanted to pick holes in his lesson plan, insisting that she had more input but she couldn't bring herself to because it was actually really good and she knew they would get marked high on it. She finally found her voice.
"I know you're not," she watched him pause with his quill in his hand and felt that little flutter again. What was it tonight? There was something in the air between them. She continued, her voice had a little tease it. "I really didn't want to admit this and I was so determined that I wasn't going to like your idea, but the lesson plan is really good. In fact it's great and as much as I would have liked to contribute more I am going to be gracious and go with it."
Draco's smirk was back and for the first time ever, Hermione was really glad to see it. "Is that approval I hear in your voice, Granger?" He didn't wait for an answer. "What was your percentage pass for Transfiguration?" He was referring to their recent studies and the grade they had all been given before applying to Hogwarts.
"That's none of your business," Hermione said.
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours." Draco's smirk had widened, his eyes dancing.
"So what shall I do in the lesson then?" Hermione tried to move them back to the lesson plan. "You've written the whole plan so I'd like to take a lead in the classroom."
Draco leant closer to her, his breath fanning her face. "You haven't answered me...was it bad? Less than 70?"
Hermione sighed loudly. He wasn't going to drop this and she needed him to because his ever increasing closeness was making her feel all jittery again. "I don't want to make you feel inferior."
Draco grinned widely at her. "Lame. Just tell me."
"You go first or are you afraid?" Hermione turned it back on him. To her surprise he answered her without hesitation.
"91%" Hermione's mouth dropped open, her eyes wide and he laughed out loud. "Got ya! That's more than you isn't it?" Draco's voice sounded joyous and highly amused. Hermione shook her head disbelievingly.
"No, it's not."
Draco's face dropped and he shook his head, puzzled. "Why did you look like that then?"
"Because that is my score exactly. My percentage was 91, exactly the same."
Now it was Draco's turn to look astonished. "You're kidding."
"No, you can check with Professor McGonagall, I got 91%"
They grinned at one another and Hermione knew it would be an interesting lesson the day after tomorrow.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
First lesson the next morning was Defence against the Dark Arts, officially titled History of Defence against the Dark Arts since Voldemort's defeat, but Hermione, Michael and Draco couldn't get out of their old habits and kept missing 'History of'. This was now taught by a new teacher called Professor Cutting. Hermione really wanted to like her because she was young, attractive in a startling sort of way and female but within ten minutes of class starting, Hermione disliked her intensely. She wasn't welcoming to Draco and herself at all, in fact Hermione felt uncomfortable, as if they were being a nuisance and the young professor's demeanour was defensive and cautious as if she didn't want them to see too much. She was also so abrupt with the pupils that it was verging on being rude. However, Hermione had faith in Professor McGonagall's opinion so she supposed she was a very good teacher.
At the end of the lesson Professor Cutting called dismissed the pupils and called them over to do their assessment of the lesson. She was still unfriendly, hardly speaking other than to bark out their questions. Hermione couldn't help be fascinated by her though because she actually looked like one of those witches a Muggle child would see in a fairytale book. Not the old, ugly hag type but the glamorous, scheming type. When the questions were Draco surprised her by asking Professor Cutting a question.
"How long have you been a professor?"
Professor Cutting looked at him surprised and for a moment Hermione held her breath half expecting her to bite Draco's head off. Then the hard expression on the professor's face relaxed.
"Almost three years but I've only started at Hogwarts this year," Professor Cutting gave a small smile which completely altered her face. "What made you decide you would like to teach, Mr Malfoy?"
"Draco, please," Draco flashed the professor his best smile and Hermione rolled her eyes. Was he actually chatting up a professor? "Well, I always sat in class thinking I could do it this better so I thought I should actually try it." Hermione had to swallow a groan at Draco's answer. He was such an arrogant twit sometimes.
Professor Cutting obviously favoured this attitude though as her face broke into a wide smile. "Really? I hope you weren't thinking that during the lesson today?"
Draco smiled back. "Of course not. It was nice to see a younger professor dealing with this subject so well."
"Thank you," Professor Cutting said. "I have to say that you definitely look like a Malfoy."
Draco's smile faded a little but Professor Cutting didn't seem to notice. Hermione waited for Draco to ask her how she knew this but he didn't. Hermione glanced at him but he seemed to have had the wind taken out of his sails so she asked instead.
"How do you know Draco has a family likeness?"
Professor Cutting's eyes turned to Hermione quickly and she looked half surprised that Hermione had spoken, as if she had forgotten she was there. The cold, hardness was immediately back and she even looked Hermione up and down.
"I had a short acquaintance with Mrs Malfoy," her voice was icy and Hermione felt truly cold. "I believe you have completed your observation, Miss Granger. You are free to go."
Hermione felt well and truly dismissed but she was determined to stand her ground with this woman. She wasn't a pupil here any longer and she deserved to be treated as an equal. Something about her truly irritated her and she was now sure she hadn't imagined the dislike. Hermione was also aware that it seemed to be aimed very directly at her. She purposely inserted some ice of her own into her next words, making sure she used Draco's first name.
"I'll wait for Draco actually as we are observing next lesson together as well." Hermione moved unconsciously closer to Draco as she said this and he glanced over at her his eyes narrowed. Professor Cutting merely nodded slightly and then left the classroom.
As they walked to Professor Bicfine's class Draco stopped Hermione and grabbed her arm.
"Did you have to pull the jealous girlfriend act right at that particular moment?"
"What do you mean? What jealous girlfriend act?"
Draco imitated Hermione's earlier voice. "I'll wait for MY Draco as we do everything together, hands off, he's mine!"
Hermione couldn't help but smile. "That wasn't about you! She's really irritating and she obviously hates me. It just annoyed me how she dismissed me like a student. And that comment about you looking like a Malfoy, that was weird."
"Yes, that was weird. And she did speak to you like you were a five year old."
Hermione stared at him. "Did you just agree with me?"
"Yes, I don't like her either. Her eyes are everywhere, I'm not even sure if she can read our lips so watch what you say," Draco started walking again but Hermione stared after him and when he realised, he stopped and turned back to her. "Come on, we'll be late. What's up?"
"So if you don't like her either then why were you being all chatty and nice to her?"
Draco walked back to Hermione and gently took her shoulders. "Stop being a Gryffindor for five minutes, Hermione."
"What do you mean?"
"I was being chatty to her so we get high marks! It's called manipulation and we Slytherins are experts at it." Draco smirked widely at her and wiggled his eyebrows.
Sorry for the delay I have been away for the weekend. So here's the next chapter, hope it was worth the wait! Let me know by reviewing. x