Draco tried to ignore the feeling in the pit of his stomach as he approached room 702. He knew that Hermione would already be in there, and he tried to convince himself that he wasn't excited to see her as forced the small grin that had formed on his lips away.
Draco Malfoy does not get excited to see girls.
He scoffed to himself as he threw his shoulders back and sauntered into the classroom with the project he and Hermione had worked on that weekend.
"At least one of my students bothered to do their work this weekend."
Draco's teacher who wore a sweater vest with a white polo underneath called from behind his large desk. The low chorus of chatter ceased as students turned to look at the project in his hands before turning away to make panicked faces at their partners. Draco took the opportunity to scan the classroom searching for the long honey curls that belonged to Hermione, and He found himself frowning slightly when he didn't see her.
Where is she? Draco thought to himself as he walked to the long wooden table and set the project down.
"A word Mr. Malfoy"
Snape called motioning with his head for Draco to come over his black greasy hair hanging stiff beside his ears. Draco walked over and planted himself in front of the desk just as the bell rang. Turning to address the rest of the class Snape motioned towards him.
"Today you will be working on your projects-which were due today. They must be turned I before end of class if you still wish to receive full credit, if you fail to manage your time you may turn it in tomorrow for a third of the points."
He finished sharply regarding the glass over his angular nose daring them with his dark eyes to complain. The class sat silently not sure if they were dismissed to work yet, when two wide eyed students burst through the door noisily.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter! How kind of you to join us"
The older gentleman barked at the students. Hermione flushed instantly and looked at the floor.
"Sorry sir."
She mumbled. Harry nodded his head stupidly and shuffle his feet.
"It's no surprise that neither of you have a project."
He said the verbal attack continuing.
"Both of you sit down at once and get the instructions from one of your classmates who managed to make it to class on time."
Harry hung his head and instantly began walking to his seat, but Hermione faltered.
"I do have my project sir."
She said lifting her head to meet his cold glare.
"oh-"
He said in mock surprise.
"So, it's in your pocket then?"
He continued widening his eyes in false amusement.
"My partner-"
"Granger and I worked together."
Draco said cutting her off staring straight ahead giving his teacher a leveled stare ignoring the muffled gasp coming from his peers.
"Is that so"
He said making it sound like statement raising an eyebrow as he tried to keep an unreadable expression. Draco nodded and slightly turned to face Hermione.
"She has the report."
He said without looking at his teacher.
Hermione nodded and quickly slipped one strap of her backpack off her shoulder so she could pull out the clear folder that held their report.
She handed it to Draco who placed it on the desk and they both watched as their professor examined the title page that held both of their names on it.
"Very well then"
He said without looking up from the report.
"You may both go to the library for the remainder of the period"
He said turning to write them a pass. Draco bit back a grin as he saw his classmates gaping expressions along with Hermione's rosy cheeks from the corner of his eyes.
"There."
Snape said handing Draco a pass for both he and Hermione to share.
"Check in with the librarians when you get there."
He said stiffly sniffing and turning to lecture the rest of the class.
He looked at Hermione and nodded towards the door before turning on his heel and walking out the classroom.
He and Hermione walked in silence until they heard the heavy wooden door of the classroom swing shut.
"So…"
He said trailing off looking down at her.
"So."
She replied smiling lightly at the ground.
"That was a complete shit show wasn't it!"
He said laughing.
At this Hermione visibly relaxed and laughed along with him.
"He always gets so angry."
She said waving her hands around as she spoke. A lopsided grin appeared on Draco's face as he watched her animated expressions."
"Honestly, I never thought I'd live to see the day when you came to class late."
Draco laughed as she launched into a rant about how it was all Harry's fault for wanting to get burgers from downtown with only forty minutes in the lunch period.
"Drake!"
A voice called from behind the pair. He grimaced as recognition dawned upon him. Rolling his eyes up to the outdoor overhang he turned around masking his face into a forced smile.
"pansy."
He said trying and failing to seem excited to see her. The girl didn't seem to notice as her eyes were trained on Hermione who had stopped a few paces ahead to give them some space.
"What are you doing with her?"
She said not bothering to lower her voice as she looked past Draco.
"What do you mean?"
Draco asked furrowing his brow feigning ignorance.
"I mean that Lavender brown saw you two all up close and personal in the park Saturday.
She said tearing her eyes away from Hermione looking at Draco squarely.
"So?"
He said sneering at her not liking where this conversation was headed.
"So, I feel like one second you care about me and then the next you don't"
Draco pinched the bridge of his nose praying that Hermione knew this was all a load of crap- not that it was any of her business.
"Parkinson. I've made it abundantly clear that I only care about you as a friend."
He knew it was probably sadistic, but he took pleasure in the hurt expression that crossed her face. He hated Pansy, of course he couldn't say it but every quality he hated about people she possessed. He found her annoying, daft, and pretentious. Which says a lot coming from a Malfoy.
"Drake you don't mean that."
She said reaching an arm out to touch him or grab his arm or something. He never got the chance to find out though because he side stepped her hand and rolled his eyes at her.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Drake"
He asked shuddering as the name tumbled past his lips.
"I have a girlfriend Parkinson…and you have class."
He lied pointing to the intern that was walking towards them. Hermione who had pretending to be disinterested snapped her head up.
"Who-her!"
she snickered.
"Even if you were telling the truth- which you're not!"
She cried taking a step towards him.
"Your parents would never accept her, and It'll be me. Because it has always been me."
She said glaring at him her voice low and menacing. The intern who was approaching the two slowly as if they were two feral animals cleared her throat to speak.
"You don't know anything about my family"
Draco said cutting off the poor girl who eyes continuously widened behind her large glasses his voice soft but anger evident.
"No, but I know you."
Pansy said flicking her long inky colored hair over her shoulder.
"You want that company more than life itself, and you'll do whatever it takes to get it."
She finished smiling a sickening triumphant smile.
"I already am."
Draco said turning on his heel not bothering to explain his words. He began stalking away but paused momentarily to grab Hermione's hand before continuing on.
"What are you doing?!"
she hissed looking up at him. He noted that although she sounded annoyed, she had laced her fingers with his without hesitation.
"Hold on, I'm thinking"
He replied as he continued taking long strides towards the library not relinquishing the grasp on her tiny hand. They walked in silence and Draco only slowed when they were approaching the doors of the library because Hermione had slowed her pace. Their hands were still connected but now they were an arm's length apart.
"What's the matter?"
Draco asked looking back genuinely confused. She said nothing but looked down at there hands and then back up at him.
"What, are you embarrassed to be seen holding hands with me?"
He joked raising an eyebrow at her.
"I was thinking the exact opposite actually"
She said matter of factly staring up at him. He paused not sure what to say.
"You think I'm embarrassed to be seen with you"
He said making sound more like an explanation than a statement. Hermione shrugged and looked away but still made no move to go inside.
"You're impossible"
Draco chuckled as he tugged her forward and through the front doors of the building.
"We're here from Professor Snapes class."
Draco said handing the pass to the older women behind the desk who had her graying hair in a loose bun. She raised her eyebrow curiously at the pair but made no mention of the fact that their hands were interlocked.
"How have you been Ms. Granger, a lot has happened I presumed?"
She asked a mischievous glint appearing in her eye as she glanced at Draco momentarily.
"I'm just fine professor McGonagall, how are you?"
Hermione asked her cheeks a brilliant shade of red.
"Quite horrible actually, I'm afraid Lee Jordan isn't nearly as dedicated to organizing books as you were."
She said winking. Hermione laughed quietly as she and Draco both observed the new TA asleep in a weathered armchair.
"I've got you to marked down, now if you'll excuse me, I have to go wake him."
She said walking around the counter heading towards the sleeping boy.
"C'mon"
Draco said pulling on Hermione's arm.
"What are-"
"Quick, while she's distracted"
Draco whisper yelled as they briskly made their way to the back door of the library.
"Draco I am not going out there."
Hermione said whispering, but still not slowing down.
The two barreled through the door and Draco broke into a sprint still holding onto Hermione's hand. She began running as well and Draco felt a gerbil of laughter in his throat.
"Where are we going!"
Hermione asked looking over shoulder making sure no teacher was running after them.
"We're almost there."
Draco said out of breath as he slowed to a light jog. They came to a complete stop by the empty faculty parking lot that nobody used.
"We ran all this way…just to look at your car."
Hermione asked pursing her lips and crossing her arms breathing heavily. He shook his head and ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
"No, we ran all this way because we're going on an adventure."