Hermione woke up to the sound of an old song. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, she looked around. The place looked unfamiliar.
Someone was singing.
She frowned and sat up. The blanket seemed to have kept her warm, for the room in itself was anything but warm. As she looked around, she began to note some similarities between this room and her normal dwelling quarters. It was only then that she realized that it was another dormitory. But the colour on the walls was different.
Slytherin! The Dungeons!
That explained the coldness. Who was singing?
Clutching the blanket, she got off the bed. The floor was atrociously cold. Ignoring the chill, she padded off in the direction of the voice. It came directly from the slightly opened room ahead. She knew it had to be the bath.
Unsure, she stopped outside.
"Malfoy?"
The singing ended. There was a sound of shuffling. Hermione jumped when the door banged shut.
"Knock before you walk in!"
"I was just…"
She could hear a cord of curses, a few of which made her flush. At least, he had creativity.
Suddenly, the door flew open, to reveal a clean and shaved Malfoy. He stood glaring at her, his porcelain face a mask of annoyance. With a finger pointed accusingly in her direction, he spoke, "You are being a troublesome, messy little–"
"How did I get here?"
His brows knit together.
"You mean, you don't recollect what happened last night?"
She shook her head. His words caused unease.
Malfoy's eyes widened dramatically, "You don't remember what you did last night?"
She paled visibly, as her mouth grew dry. Something was off key here. "What do you mean?"
He stood there gaping at her before whistling slowly. "One wild night Granger!"
The resultant distress on her face was…priceless! Draco Malfoy decided that this was the best way to get back at here for all the trouble she'd put him through the previous night.
"You didn't–"
"I didn't. You did. I wondered how and why, but…there it is." He let out a sigh and grinned wolfishly, "It wasn't all that bad! Unique…Never before have I…You refused to let go of me! Oh my, my, my, the way we–"
"STOP! Stop, stop, STOP!"
He paused. "But you…"
"Stuff it Malfoy!"
"So…we are back to addressing each other by our last name, then?" he asked cheerfully.
Her eyes narrowed. "I didn't call you 'Draco', did I?"
Malfoy burst out laughing. She watched horrified as he clutched at his stomach and his cheeks turned a shade of pink, a shade unfamiliar on him. Tears of laughter formed on the corners of his eyes as he laughed harder on spotting her uncertain expression.
"Granger…oh my! Having called me by my first name worries you more than the hanging possibility of losing your virginity?" he gasped still chuckling.
Had she…? She looked down at herself. She was fully clothed.
"What a pay back!" she heard him say.
"Pay back, Malfoy?" she echoed.
"Yeah. For falling asleep on me."
"I fell…? You mean…"
"Don't look so stricken. Nothing happened. You came across a boggart and began to screech for help. I, by chance, came by. So I stood there wondering if I should save you, when I realized that if I didn't, you'd either scream yourself to death or bring the roof down with your banshee-like shriek. Now, that would mean killing me as well!"
She suddenly remembered. The ground seemed to reel and she groped for something to balance herself.
"I think…maybe I'm might…"
…Fall
"Merlin's Beard! Granger!"
She blinked as she felt steady arms supporting her. Flushing with embarrassment, she tried pushing him away.
He's going to taunt me for the rest of my life! She paused before thinking sardonically, well, at least I don't think I'll live long.
"Granger!" he snapped impatiently.
"Sorry…I'm…I'm fine."
"You sure you won't fall face first if I let you go then? Because, that wouldn't be a pretty sight." He sneered.
She glared. "Shut up before I decide to curse you into oblivion."
"I'm afraid I'm not all that perturbed by your 'threat', Ms. Granger. You see, wand-less magic is something even you can't perform. Sure you can crib…but magic without a wand? Impossible."
Amused, he watched her frantic search for her wand. Her hands didn't seem to have met the slender wood.
He smiled. "See what I mean, Granger?"
"Hand it over!"
"What? You think I'm daft? Someone once told me – 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' sorry mademoiselle. I'm definitely not suicidal."
"Malfoy!"
He nodded. "Ask nicely."
"Give me my wand."
"I said nicely. I don't think it includes 'demand'. Sorry."
"Malfoy…"
"Nope."
"Please."
He gave her a lopsided grin before reaching for her wand.
"Don't even think about an attack, lady."
She was gritting her teeth. "I'll try."
Smirking, he obliged. With a scowl, Hermione tucked it away.
"Does it hurt?"
Caught off guard, she gaped. "I'm sorry?"
"Your head…was bleeding. That's why you passed out. And, that's when you became a troublesome hag."
"Oh, Malfoy! You should've left me there! Why did you bother? You thought I'd be grateful to you, did you? Thought I'd fall at your feet and–"
"Granger…"
"–kiss the very ground you walk on? Wear an 'I love Master Malfoy' tattoo and run around naked? Oh I assure you Malfoy that it wouldn't happen unless hell freezes over! I swear I've never seen a vile cretin like–"
"GRANGER!" he hollered.
Hermione took a deep breath.
"Thank you." His voice was frosty. "I wish I had let you bleed to death. I'm sure your Inferi Potter would've loved it!"
She swallowed.
"Just because I felt a shred of pity at the sight–"
"Well, I hate pity. You can shove it up your…" she trailed off teasingly, as her brows rose mockingly. "Familiar words, Malfoy?"
Malfoy gave her a scowl.
"How elegant, Malfoy."
"Don't test my patience, Granger. Because–"
"I'm sorry."
"–I don't. What?"
She held up her hand in surrender. "I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have jumped at you–"
"Damn right!"
"–It's just that you are such an arrogant prick–"
"HEY!"
"What? It's true. Anyways, my apologies. I forgot my manners."
He shook his head. "I'll try to consider your apology. Don't be too sure."
Hermione's eyes reduced to thin slits and he gave a mock shudder.
"Okay, okay. You're forgiven. Sometimes, I forget my manners too."
"You? Manners? Ha!"
"Bloody woman…!"
"See?"
He glowered.
"Malfoy," she said, pointing his face. "You keep doing that stuff, I'd start thinking it's a one of your facial feature. The pretty little scowl, I mean."
Malfoy edged forward dangerously. "You're crossing your limits. Patience is out of stock."
"Buy more," she said airily and watched him through her lashes before rushing on to say, "Alright, alright. Can I ask you something though?"
He nodded for her to continue.
"How did you land up there? I mean…I was very much alone. Yesterday night?"
A strange smile touched his lips, as he studied her.
"You weren't…following me, were you?"
"Not really. But yes. I was keeping an eye out for you."
"Why?"
He gave her a casual shrug. "I felt I needed to."
"I don't suppose you'd respect the other person's privacy?"
His eyes flashed. "I can see through a lie, Granger. And, I can see through you. You're holding back something. And, I have a feeling it isn't something unimportant. Like I've told you before, I don't have faith in you. And, I value my life more than your said privacy."
An uncomfortable silence followed.
"I need to go."
She trotted back to set the bed. After a few minutes, with the blankets neatly piled, she nodded, satisfied.
"Ever heard of using a wand, Granger?"
She looked at him and shrugged, "I like it this way." There was a snort and she heard him mutter something that sounded distinctly like 'freak'. "I must be off now." She hesitated and looked away. "Thank you."
Draco didn't reply. She had almost reached out when she heard him call her name. Pausing, she cast him a half glance, "Yes?"
"I'm curious. But, what happens when hell freezes over Granger?"
"Pardon me?"
"Something about tattoo and…" he trailed off mischievously.
Was Draco Malfoy teasing her? She blushed and smacked her head. As she walked out, she made sure that the door was shut with a loud bang.
The sound of his chuckles still reached her. Hermione growled and quickened her steps.
Unbeknown to the two, a lone man watched them. Annoyance was written all over his face. Things...weren't going as planned.
Author's Note: Yep yep. So this was the part which was supposed to come with the previous chapter :D Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed Sugesstions, comments...anything and everything encouraged and loved. So...REVIEW!