Resentment

Chapter 14: I spy with my little eye

A/N: I own nothing except my mistakes. Also, I just wanted to let you know that I'll be gone from August 7th until August 13th, so for now this is my last update. But once I'm back from my holiday, I'll continue updating, so no worries!

Draco.

Silence.

Draco.

Hermione smiled to herself as she was snuggled on the couch three days later, a cup of tea in her hands as she was seated between her parents, watching some sort of movie which was way too full of romance for her taste.

Draco.

Granger, shut up. Hermione lightly chuckled under her breath, loving how she could so easily irk him.

Draco.

In the name of Merlin, what the hell do you want, Granger? Even though he sounded annoyed, she knew he didn't really mean it. He was, after all, simply laying on his bed, flicking with his wand as he performed some simple charms. It's not like she was interrupting him or something.

I'm bored to death. Entertain me. Focusing her vision on his, she watched as his wand movement stilled. I'm not a circus monkey, find your own entertainment. Hermione scoffed as she got up from the couch and retreated to the kitchen, where she didn't need to mind her expressions and breathing so much.

Oh, come on. It's not like you aren't in some need of entertainment yourself. Covering her excuse for leaving her parents, she grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with some water. Fair enough. What do you suggest?

Hermione bit her lip in thought, wondering what in the world they could do when they weren't even in the same room. Checking her surroundings, she suddenly had an idea that would work perfectly for them. I spy.

What? He sounded sincerely confused, and Hermione realized he mustn't have heard of the game. It's a Muggle game. It's basically where you choose an object in your surroundings, and say 'I spy with my little eye something...' and then you can either name the first letter of the object, or say the colour.

With my little eye? Really, Granger? That's what Muggles come up with? Hermione rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her water, welcoming the coolness that glided through her throat. Fine, then just say 'I spy something'

And how were you even planning to do this? Hermione had to refrain herself from getting worked up over the stupid question. Wasn't he supposed to be all smart like she was? He was second in best in their classes, after all. By vision, of course, you idiot. It's a little trick we got, remember?

Right. Draco remained silent after that, and Hermione took her place back on the couch so she'd get a better view of her surroundings. I'll begin then.

Whatever. Hermione rolled her eyes, gulping down the remainder of her water. Don't sound so excited. Taking a good look around the room, she hoped that he was watching her vision as she found an object. I spy something, and it's white.

Granger, nearly every bloody furniture is white in your house. How am I supposed to know? Hermione groaned under her breath. Playing games surely wasn't as fun with Draco as she had hoped. Just guess something.

Fine. He remained silent, and Hermione took this opportunity to slowly look around her room to give him an idea. Your couch?

No.

Hermione looked around again, only to be stopped by a very irritated Draco. Granger, hold the vision for a second! Hermione held her gaze on the kitchen, but it earned her a growl from him. No, turn back to the left.

Doing as asked, she fixed her gaze back to the left. No, not so fast! Granger, just- A humorous frustrated growl sounded in her head, and Hermione had to bit her cheek to stop her from laughing aloud. Okay, just look back at the fireplace.

With a quiet chuckle she did as asked, and waited for him to make a guess. The cabinet?

No.

Another frustrated growl. Look to your right. And slowly this time. He hurriedly added, and Hermione once more did as asked. This sure was a bit more complicated than playing the game when they would be together in the room, but perhaps with enough practice they'd get the hang of it.

The window?

Yes! Hermione sounded a bit too excited, but she was glad to not hear his frustrated growls anymore. They really dampened the mood, and not to even mention how weird they actually sounded. Okay, your turn.

Focusing her mind on his vision, she welcomed his bedroom view. Do I really have to say it?

Yes. "Do you like the movie, dear?" Her mother's voice made her jump, and she nearly lost Draco's vision. You already don't have to say 'little eye', the least you can do is say the rest. "Yes, I do." She lied, adding a smile to make it more believable.

I can't believe I'm actually playing this childish game. "Are you sure? You don't seem to like it much. We can watch something else, if you want. Your dad and I have seen this movie a dozen of times, anyway." Her mother suggested, but Hermione shook her head. "No, really, mom. I do like it. I'm just somewhere else with my head." Well, that wasn't a complete lie.

Just bloody say it, Draco. Her mother smiled knowingly, although Hermione doubted she actually knew. "It's school, isn't it? You're doing so great, sweetheart. It really is okay to take a break once in a while." Fine. I spy something, and the colour is black.

Black, really? Most objects in his bedroom were black. Hermione just gave her mother a single nod with a smile, showing that she'd take it into consideration, and was glad to see that her mother turned back to the movie.

Focusing her full attention back on his vision, she watched as he slowly looked around his entire room, showing every little nook and all the objects he could lay his eyes on. Your curtains?

Honestly, Granger, how obvious do you think I'd make it? Hermione silently huffed, watching the rest of the objects again. The frame of your bed?

Try again. This was really frustrating to do, especially when almost everything consisted out of black in his room. Your sweatpants?

Close, but no. So she was close.. but how close exactly? She doubted he'd go for the same object she had chosen, and she didn't see him as the type to choose his nightstand, either. What more was black?

Draco twirled his wand in his hands, although they were barely visible, his eyes fixed slightly higher up. It couldn't be.. could it? The back of your wand? The movement stilled, and Hermione smiled in victory when he grumbled an answer. Yes.

Although the game on its own was fun to play, Hermione had to admit that it was a pain in the arse to play when you couldn't look with your own eyes. So snapping her vision back to her own living room, she decided to suggest another game.

How about we play Two Truths and a Lie? Bidding her parents goodnight now that the movie had ended, she got upstairs and to her room. What's that? Rolling her eyes, she took her seat in front of the window. You'd think the name would be enough explanation. Nonetheless, she explained the game.

It's where you make three statements, and two are the truth and one is a lie. The other has to guess which one is the lie. It was silent for a few seconds, but his voice sounded a bit more enthusiastic than when she proposed the other game. Alright. Glad with the approval, she shifted in her seat with a smile on her face. In all honesty, this was the perfect game to get to know him a bit better.

Okay, I'll start then. Hermione thought for a second, until she remember something important. Oh, wait. Before I start I just want to warn you that you can't cheat. No listening in on my thoughts, okay? It really takes the fun out of the game.

Yes yes, just begin. Nodding in satisfaction, she took a few seconds out to think about her truths and her lie. I've never been ice skating, I love chocolate chip pancakes and I can't sleep before nine pm. Draco remained silent, most likely going over her options. I'd say that you've never been ice skating is a lie.

Actually, that's the truth. Hermione chuckled at the surprised sound of Draco. Are you kidding me, Granger? You've never been ice skating? Even I've been ice skating!

Never. I'm always too afraid I'll lose control and end up with my face into the rock hard ice. It was a good thing that she couldn't see him, because she was sure that he was laughing right now. Then what was your lie? He asked when he had calmed down a bit, confirming her earlier suspicion. That I can't fall asleep before nine pm.

How lovely to know. Hermione shook her head, but a smile was there on her face nonetheless. Waiting in anticipation for his statements, she wondered what she could learn about him, and what he would feel comfortable enough to share with her. I can play the piano, I speak two languages and I've never been abroad.

Hermione bit her lip in thought, wondering which one would be the lie. They all seemed like they could be truths, but then again, they all seemed like lies as well. Because where would he be able to learn a second language? They didn't teach it at Hogwarts, after all. Neither did she see his family as the type of people to travel around a lot, and she had a lot of trouble picturing him playing the piano.

Random guessing it would be, then. I'd say that you can play the piano is a lie. It was a lot easier to picture the Malfoy family to travel around for business or something than to see Draco playing the piano. Nope, I can play the piano.

You can? It was difficult to mask her surprise, and she was sure that her mouth was dropped open. No offence to him, but the only way she could picture him was brooding away in his bedroom. Yeah, and I can speak two languages. So that meant he indeed never went abroad. But where in the world did he learn a second language? What second language do you speak, then?

French. My mom taught me when I was younger. Just like she taught me how to play the piano. The French language has been passed down the generations, actually. Everyone from my mother's side knows how to speak French. Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise, not having expected such information. Are they French, then?

No. Well, that made things confusing. What do you mean 'no'? Then why do they speak French? Picturing Draco in his bedroom, she waited until his view came. When it did, she was surprised to see him sitting in front of his own window. Watching his reflection in the window, she noticed how his dark circles under his eyes had grown even darker, making him look even more tired than he had looked all year.

But nonetheless there was the slightest hint of a smile on his face, his gaze somewhere in the distance. I believe it's because my great-great-great grandmother decided to move to France at some point, picked up the language there. After a couple of years she moved back to England, but for some reason decided to pass on the language. Don't really know why, though.

Okay, moving on. Hermione said, thinking quickly about her statements. I can hold my breath for two minutes, I've never been able to do a cartwheel and I hate dirty dishes in the sink. Hermione watched as the faint smile disappeared from his face and his eyebrows scrunched up together in thought, his eyes lowering slightly to the ground as he went over her options.

Hermione caught herself just in time before she'd let herself thinking that he actually looked rather adorable like that. He just looked so natural and innocent – thinking about which statement in a game could be a lie. Luckily, though, she quickly wiped away that thought and blamed it on the fact that she just never saw him like this before.

I'd say that holding your breath for two minutes is a lie. His eyes lifted up a bit again, fixing his gaze back outside to look at the darkness that was falling upon them. Nope, I can actually do that. His eyebrows shot up in amusement, his eyes lightening up and the corners of his lips turning slightly upwards. Then what's your lie?

That I've never been able to do a cartwheel. Draco shook his head lightly, his famous smirk finding its way back to his face. So you hate dirty dishes in the sink, then? I should've known, actually. You always clean up after you used something.

Hermione smiled broadly at that, a warm feeling finding its way inside as he said that. So he paid attention to that little thing? It made her wonder what else he learned about her, but decided against asking. What are you smiling about? That made her smile drop immediately, and she felt like he had just walked in on her naked. Are you watching me?

Don't sound so accusing, Granger. It's not like you aren't doing the same thing. Hermione was about to ask how he knew, but then realized that they could feel it. It was like a slight weight on their minds; not too much that it hurt, but enough to notify the other that they were snooping in on each other. Fair enough.

So what were you smiling about? Hermione really did not want to answer that question, so she chose the only option she had: changing the subject. Nothing worthy to know. It's your turn.

She knew he was about to argue – she could practically see it in the way his jaw twitched, but he refrained against it, much to her relief. I've never learned how to cook, I've never tasted honey and I only drink coffee in the morning.

Hermione tried to watch his face to see if it would give away the lie, but as expected it didn't. That wasn't too surprising, though. After all, the only way she'd have a chance of seeing a difference in his facial expression would be when he'd actually say the statements aloud.

So, again she tried to think logically about this. He always had house elves taking care of him, so she really doubted that he'd know how to cook. Then again, it could be a trick to make her think like that.

Nonetheless, it was her best shot. I'd say that you've never tasted honey is a lie. A smile appeared on his lips again, this time, however, it was a victorious smile. Nope, again it's the truth. Hermione's eyebrows shot up in surprise, wondering how he had never tasted honey.

You really are a strange kid, Draco. His smile widened enough to show his teeth, a grin now on his face. Says the one who can hold her breath for two minutes. Hermione smiled at that, then focused back on his statements. So what's your lie?

That I've never learned how to cook. It's another thing my mother taught me when I was young. She found it important that I'm able to take care of myself, even though right now I have house elves at my service. Hermione tensed at the latter, silently cursing their family for their use of house elves. But letting that slide for now, she was quite impressed to learn that fact. Your mother sounds like a smart woman.

She is. His grin turned back into a faint smile, his eyes fixed somewhere in the distance. But it was clear to see the admiration on his face towards his mother. Smiling to herself, she stretched her muscles and quickly changed her clothes.

I think that's enough games for today. Hermione said, and covered her mouth with her hand as she yawned. Draco seemed to agree as he, too, got up from his seat and moved to his bed. Goodnight, Draco.

Hermione sighed as it remained quiet, and was about to disconnect herself from his view when she saw the slightest of a smile appear on his face. Goodnight, Hermione. And with that she fell asleep with a smile of her own.