AN: Hey guys! Here's the update, I really hope you'll like it! Please leave reviews and tell me what you think!
Thanks for all your support guys:)
The next day came, with a disappointed Draco Malfoy entering the classroom.
He had waited all day and all night yesterday for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team to practice, thinking he'd be able to pull Harry and Ron aside.
Turns out, their practice was tonight.
He wasn't able to do his Potions homework, and Transfiguration essay.
"Where have you been, Drakie-poo?" Pansy asked him yesterday night, after he entered the Slytherin common room with a bad temper.
"Doing things for reasons unknown to me." He snapped, talking to no one and sleeping, dreaming of red heads and scar heads and all the other heads he thought he had had enough of.
Hermione, on the other hand, entered the classroom on a happier note. She talked to Ginny yesterday, telling her about Draco's first sign of acknowledgement on summer at the Burrow.
"You know what? I have a strong feeling he's coming back." She had said last night, while she twirled her quill and gazed at nothing in particular.
"Why is that?" Ginny asked, looking at her. "He still does not know. How will he find out if we were banned by Dumbledore to mention anything?"
Hermione shrugged. "You know that feeling where you just know something's going to happen? An intuition? Or a really strong instinct alert? A gut feeling?"
Ginny nodded. "I can tell when my brothers are going to lie."
"I can tell he's coming back." She answered in return.
"Why are you so happy?" Ron asked suspiciously as Hermione greeted them a very, very good morning.
"Nothing, nothing." She hummed back.
"Well stop showing us you're happy, I can't think all the more! I have to finish this damned essay!" Ron exclaimed, scratching away and wrinkling his nose.
Hermione smirked and looked around. She spotted Draco Malfoy, doing exactly the same thing Ron was doing.
The moment she saw his blond hair, she was already holding her breath.
"Alright, alright class!" Professor McGonagall said as she entered the classroom and waved her wand to clear everything up.
"Settle down, settle down." She said, as she went behind her desk and faced the whole class.
"Mister Malfoy, I want you to sit down beside Miss Granger." She said.
An immediate wave of violent reactions vibrated inside the room. Hermione felt sorry for Neville, who was her seatmate. He now had to stay beside Blaise.
"Come on now, we don't have all day! I've heard about what happened yesterday from Professor Snape, and we've decided you both have to spend more time together. It's time to settle your differences! It's your last year in Hogwarts, for heaven's sake!" She said, although Hermione could've sworn she saw her smirk as she faced the blackboard.
What is she playing at?
"Bye Neville." Harry and Ron said grudgingly, as Hermione smiled a sort of I'm-so-sorry kind of smile.
"Bye guys." Neville said in a very, very small voice.
Hermione watched as Draco and Neville passed each other, making their ways to the tables of doom.
Draco had gotten much, much taller since last year, Hermione observed once again. He looked so handsome. He had clear, pale skin, which made him look fragile. All the more Hermione felt like she had to protect him. And his white blond hair, the hair that made Hermione's knees buckle! It was so easy to spot him in a crowd, it was only Draco who had that kind of hair color.
He was one of a kind.
And as he came closer, Hermione smelled a familiar scent, which made her go back to summer once again. Summer, and Three Broomsticks, and the mall, and the lawn, and everything else.
Draco finally sat down in Neville's place, right beside Hermione.
He was sending invisible electrical charges to Hermione, she couldn't stop shaking!
Harry and Ron were watching him, giving him "the stare".
"You better be good." Harry threatened.
"Uhuh…" Draco said tiredly, without any objection whatsoever.
Harry bit back his tongue. It was as if he had scripted and planned everything he was going to say, every retort he would say after Draco answered back…and on and on... But Draco wasn't in the mood today.
"Uhm…" Hermione spoke. Ron eyed her carefully, but Harry nudged him and whispered, 'Give them privacy Ron!'
"….You okay?" She asked uncertainly, trying to take advantage of the situation and start a conversation.
Draco looked at her. Hermione's insides swam as soon as she saw his piercing silver eyes.
He said nothing.
Damn. Thought Hermione. This is a hard one.
"Okay class!" Professor McGonagall proclaimed. "Today we shall be transforming these dirty rags and worn out clothes into brand new ones. We shall be making something old, entirely new." She demonstrated, making the class let out "Ooohs." And "Aaaaahs."
"Come on now, your turn." Professor McGonagall indicated, and the whole class started waving their wands and saying nothing at all. It was a nonverbal spell.
Draco couldn't concentrate. It was only now that Draco noticed how soft her skin looked like, being up close.
And Draco almost dropped his wand when he accidentally hit her hand as he flicked his wand.
"Mr. Malfoy! You'd have to try better than that!" Professor McGonagall scolded, but the moment she turned he knew she was holding back her smirk.
Next thing he knew, he was waving his wand in front of Ron's hair, making it turn different shades of pink, for he was too busy looking at Hermione who moved like a pro. ("Sorry, I just thought Weasel's hair was a rag! Ha ha!")
She was stunning.
Every move she made caused her to look like she was born error-free. Her eyes twinkled in a way that made Draco forget the whole spell over and over again, her hair flowed in all the right directions that made him stare unknowingly, and her smile, her smile made Draco forget there were other people in the room.
"That's it for today!" Professor McGonagall suddenly called. There was shuffling and movement everywhere.
Draco looked around. Over already!?
"Professor McGonagall! Professor, excuse me, professor!" He called above all the noise.
"What is it, Mr. Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall asked exasperated, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"The lesson's over? Haven't we just started…?" He asked in a suddenly small voice, because soon the whole class erupted in laughter.
Professor McGonagall tried to look stern. "My my, Mr. Malfoy. A whole hour and half has already passed by, haven't you noticed? I'm surprised at your progress today. You need more concentration…" She almost hummed, as she left the room so that they wouldn't see her gleeful face.
He can't concentrate. Ha ha! He's distracted by her! Dumbledore was right all along! Thought McGonagall.
"You should try harder next time Malfoy." Hermione said expressionless as she began to pack her bags.
Draco wasn't listening. He was spacing out again, just looking at her.
"…I'll follow you guys for lunch, I'll just finish packing my books. No Ron, stop pretending you'll wait, I can hear your stomach from here! Okay, bye you guys. Oh and leave me some chicken!" Hermione said, as she slowly packed her books.
Her hair fell as she bent, and it was the most beautiful kind of movement Draco had ever seen.
Shut up Draco, shut up.
"Hermione! Can you help me please?" Neville suddenly called, having trouble with his books and unusually smelly rag.
Hermione sighed. "Oh Neville… what did you do now? Okay… okay… wait, I'm coming." And she made her way towards Neville, leaving her half packed bag and unattended books behind.
Draco seemed to stare at her books with unusual interest.
Don't do it.
Come on… do it!
Don't! You'll look stupid!
It doesn't matter! Just don't be too obvious!
But that's it! I'm already being obvious!!
"Anytime Neville, anytime…" She said.
Quick! She's coming! She's coming! Just do it!!!
And Draco didn't think anymore, all he did was lounge as fast as he could to get a random book of Hermione's, and he stuffed it inside his bag.
He tried to look as innocent and unknowing as he could when Hermione arrived.
"….poor Neville… what that boy ate this morning… I never want to know…" Hermione continued to rant as she placed her books inside her bag, not noticing that one book was suspiciously missing.
She finally carried her bag and was about to leave when she turned around and noticed that Draco Malfoy was still there.
"You aren't leaving?" She asked.
Draco couldn't reply, he might tell her about the book. And he might lose his words if he continued to look at her eyes.
He just shook his head and avoided eye contact.
"Alright." Hermione said, and left with Neville.
Draco was alone now, and he mentally slapped himself.
He was beginning to see Hermione in unexpected perfection.
Draco impatiently waited for evening to come. He decided he would skip waiting for Harry and Ron after Quidditch practice because if he was able to talk to them, he'd bet 110 percent they knew nothing, and 99.9 percent that they wouldn't tell him anyway.
He had been rehearsing since after lunch, barely paying attention to his classes, and barely paying attention to his intentions.
He's been debating with himself, figuring out how he could subtly return the book back to Hermione.
You see, he took her book because he wanted an excuse to go back to her.
And his job on debating wasn't easy either, for he couldn't concentrate with Hermione sitting inches away from him.
It turns out, all the teachers wanted them to sit together, so they could "reconcile and set their differences away." What joyful punishment Draco Malfoy was receiving lately. He barely could sit still, he got all jittery when she was beside him.
And he still couldn't figure out why.
It was now finally evening, and the first stars of the night were starting to appear. Draco Malfoy was walking the halls alone, narrowly avoiding Pansy Parkinson and her gang.
He was rehearsing in his head.
"Hey Hermione, I just dropped by to drop your book." He said quietly.
"Wait, that sounds stupid, dropped by to drop her book? Too much drop…" He answered himself.
"Hey Hermione… no no, why am I calling her Hermione!? Hey Granger…" He started.
"You left your book in the classroom…" He scratched his chin.
"And then I give the book to her." He said. "Yeah yeah, that will work. Let's go Draco." He told himself, holding the book tighter and walking towards the library, where he was sure a certain Hermione Granger was reading right before the dinner feast.
He entered quietly, immediately hiding into the shadow of a nearby shelf.
He watched her from afar, and he stayed glued to the spot, he didn't even move.
He watched her as she silently turned the page, gently, slowly, page after page… as though she had all the time in the world, and she looked perfect. And he marveled at the fact that her hair flowed gently down her back and shoulders, making her look so vulnerable and beautiful. Her eyes were in full concentration, and she'd occasionally smile or frown as she read, which in some unknown way made Draco want to watch her forever.
Draco, stop it for Merlin's sake!!! Why are you staring at her?! Go on, give her the book!
"Oh right." He told himself. And he straightened his posture, heaved in a deep breath, put his hand through his hair, and moved a fraction of an inch when Madam Pince scolded him.
"What are you doing here?! Haven't you been told?! Go to the Great Hall right now, come on! Come on! Professor Dumbledore has important news, very important indeed! Go now, go now! You can not miss it!" She said in a hurry, waving Draco out of the library as though he was some rodent damaging her peace. "Hurry! Off to dinner you!" She called after him.
Draco looked back for a while, bewildered and pissed off, but the moment he saw Madam Pince approach Hermione, he broke into a run.
No way would he let Hermione see he had been waiting for her.
"Where have you been, Drakie-poo?" Pansy cooed at him as he took his seat beside her.
"Library." He said lazily.
"The library?! What were you doing there?!" She asked with wide-eyes.
"Studying. Need it. Having a hard time." He said incompletely, he wasn't paying much attention to her…
"Oh yeah! What happened to you, Drakie…? You're having a hard time in class…. Oooooh…. Maybe I can help you… Wouldn't that be nice, Drakie?... Drakie? Drakie?"She asked him, and as Draco lacked response, she stomped on his foot.
"OOOOOMMMFFF!!" He exclaimed. "Yes! Yes! Alright, alright!!!" He said exasperated.
"Thanks baby…." She cooed again. "When's Dumbledore going to announce his important news…? I'm so hungry…." She whined.
Draco said nothing. He had a feeling he knew why Dumbledore wasn't starting yet.
She wasn't here.
He anxiously waited, looking back and forth from the entrance and the Gryffindor table. The Great Hall was simply filled with buzz and excitement as they all tried to guess what Dumbledore had to say.
Draco started to worry where she was.
Where is she….?!
…..Why do you wonder where she could be? A voice at the back of his mind said.
Shut up.
Then finally Hermione entered the Great Hall, looking harassed but nonetheless confident. She immediately ran towards the Gryffindor table and took a seat.
She never seems to notice Draco watch her, actually.
Draco's eyes followed her from the moment she entered until she sat down and started talking rapidly to Ron, Harry and Ginny.
Suddenly, all the noise died out as soon as Professor Dumbledore stood up.
"Students, welcome. I am sorry for holding your dinner a little late, I know you are all hungry…." A series of groans supported this statement.
"But believe me, after I say what I have to say, you guys would be too busy talking to notice your food." He chuckled, then prepared for the real deal.
"To ensure that you are all having a good time in school, and especially for the seventh years," Dumbledore looked Draco straight in the eye, "it will be your last year here in Hogwarts, and what a shame it would be if friendships and relationships will not be created, if not, preserved." This time he looked at Hermione.
"We, the faculty and staff, have decided to host a dance." He stopped to breathe, and the moment he said "dance" everyone started talking and chatting and buzzing, the whole room simply echoed with this and that.
He raised his hand to silence the room. "It will be a night to spend time with each other and there will be absolutely no homework and school work given. I have banned the teachers from giving you any homework/school work the night before, during, and after the dance."
Immediately fireworks of cheers and applause erupted in the room.
"Yes, yes, thank you for your enthusiasm." Dumbledore said, smiling. "It will be held here, in this magnificent hall, and everyone, everyone is welcome to attend.
However, first years to third years have to have the consent of their parents. Fourth to sixth years can attend at his or her own free will, it is completely optional. You all have the choice." He said, smiling to everyone.
"However," he cleared his throat, "ALL graduating students, seventh years, seniors, whatever you want to call it, are required to attend."
And the hall erupted with cheers from the seventh years, who were rubbing it on the faces of the poor first, second and third year students.
Draco Malfoy sighed. He could tell what they were up to, it was too strong not to sense.
"But, there is one condition." Dumbledore added. "Naturally, you are to come in dates."
Draco Malfoy inhaled deeply. It's coming… it's coming…
"And I don't want to put such burden on all of you. First to six year students can come with or without a date."
Draco exhaled anxiously. Here it comes… Here it comes… I can feel it….
"But all seventh year students are required to come with dates. Please, no females running after the males, it by far looks utterly disturbing. We would like to practice old-fashioned traditions, that is to say, the male population should do the approaching for dates. The dance will be held Saturday next week, 7:00pm onwards. Good Luck and have fun!"
BAM. There it is. Draco Malfoy thought bitterly, nervously, anxiously. It was a Friday today.
He had exactly seven days to ask Hermione out to the dance.
Oh the joy.
And so Draco Malfoy silently ate the food that magically appeared as soon as Dumbledore finished his doomed speech. Draco was not talking to anyone; he was feeling nervous and anxious inside.
He didn't even know why instinct had him choose Hermione.