-"You better stop doing that, mate"- Zabinni muttered shaking his head in disapproval as he took a seat.
-"What?"- Malfoy asked absent-minded.
-"That"- Zabinni repeated pointing out with his finger to the small figure of a brunette girl.- "Stop staring. It´s creepy."
-"I am not…"- Malfoy hissed.
-"Theo! Come here lad!"- Blaise called.-"Don´t you consider what Malfoy is doing with Granger as creepy?"
-"Oh sweet Merlin…"- Theo started, sitting next to Draco.-"He is staring at her. Again?"- Theo smiled before answering,-"Yes, creepy indeed. I didn´t have you as stalker, Malfoy. I have no idea why the poor girl hasn´t hexed you yet."- Theo continued,looking at Hermione.
-"I don´t know what you are talking about. She is…"
-"Please, I was in Potions the other day. Remember?"- Blaise interrupted.- "There is no need to lie."
-"Of course not."- Theo agreed.-"We get it, mate. We saw her at the Yule Ball…"- Draco glared at him.- "and we are seeing her now…."- Theo rolled his eyes along the legs of Hermione, which were intertwined beneath the table.- "It´s a tragedy she hides all that underneath those loose robes…"
-"Shut the fuck up"- Malfoy scolded closing his book violently.
-"Or what?"- Theo teased him flashing his pearly teeth. –"I bet she does wonders with those lips…"
Malfoy got up from his seat at once.
-"Don´t you dare talk about her again"- he snapped putting out his wand.
-"See?"- Nott asked cheekily.-"Tell me you don´t know what we are talking about again."- Theo exclaimed getting Malfoy to press his wand against his throat.
-"Guys, chill."- Blaise said looking around alarmed. Everyone was watching at them. Everyone. Hermione Granger included.
-"I am chill."- Theo exclaimed clearly amused.
-"Draco…"- Blaise said in a plea.-"You know he is just messing around…"
-"I´ll fucking erase that smile from your face Nott."- Draco said angrily.
-"Mate, cut it off."- Zabinni said patting down his shoulder.-"Look at her"- he whispered in the lowest voice he could make.
Draco knew right away who was "her". He casted a glance over Granger, but he was incapable of taking his eyes away. She seemed concerned. Worried. Would he be the cause of such sorrow? He put down the wand, eased by her soothing look.
"Are you okay?"- Hermione outlined with her lips. Her skin was a shade paler. Her stomach twisted in a knot that kept getting tighter. She could not possibly understand what was going on. Why did Malfoy look as if he was about to cast an unforgivable on one of his dearest snakes?
Draco nodded in response, and she felt the knot untying to her relief. He sat on his chair as Hermione did the same on the other side of the room. She knew she shouldn´t, but she needed it, so she ignored who they were and looked back over her shoulder to meet his grey eyes once again.
"I am alright, Granger"- his voice echoed in his mind.-"But I won´t be if you don´t pull that little skirt of yours down."
Hermione opened her eyes wide and blushed abruptly. Draco smiled as he saw her fingers tugging the fabric to cover her thighs.
-"Good morning everyone"- the cheerful voice of the new professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts entered the classroom as a breath of fresh air.-"How are you doing?- she asked as she sit on her desk appearing a cup of tea.- "Earl grey… what a delight!"- she muttered smelling steaming liquid.- "Oh! I have not introduced myself! Veronica Blithe, enchanted to meet you. I´ll be your professor of the year, unless I break the course over this subject and I stay a little bit longer…- she smiled at them.- "Let´s start. Shall we?"- she asked removing her cloak, some of the students gasped at the sight of her blue mom jeans.
The professor rolled her eyes and sat on the edge of her desk folding her arms.
-"How are you supposed to fight in a war if you make such a fuss over a pair of jeans"- she asked amused.-"Upsi. I forgot we are still on denial about that topic. My mistake."- she continued taking a sip from her mug."
-"Professor." –called Pansy Parkinson.- "Isn´t there a dress code?"- she asked shifting in her seat.
-"Of course there is, sweety."- the professor said.-"that´s why you won´t see me in my Pj´s. Allow me a word, Miss…?"
-"Parkinson."
-"Miss Parkinson, very well."- she repeated walking along the classroom.- "Being a pureblooded doesn´t mean I´ve got to be a stiff about my wardrobe choices…-Mrs. Blithe said getting a few laughs from the students.- Besides, if there is something I´ve learnt in my several travels along the world it is…., and mark my words on this,…"- she lifted both palms to the air.- "greatness lies in diversity. Why would I dismiss something I consider magnificent? Why would I narrow my view, my habits, even myself when there is so much out there? Why would I willingly accept to be prisoner of the prejudices of my comfort zone?"-she said.
Pansy Parkinson was completely puzzled. As every other student of the class.
-"Well, enough with this..."- she commanded disappearing her tea.-"Today we will be dueling. Isn´t it fun?"- the students looked at her skeptically.- "Yes! Dueling! And anything goes. I´ve already contacted Madam Pomfrey in case something happens. But try your best to keep yourselves safe. There is always so much paperwork after an incident…."- she huffed and then jumped in her seat."- oh! Before I forget…unforgivables are forbidden. I am sorry.. Dumbledore is not fond of those…"- Mrs. Blithe said in a disappointed tone.- "Well, team up."
Students stood up from their seats looking quite disconcerted. Duels? On the first class? Though most of them were fearful, the excitement of magic encouraged them to find a place among their pairs.
Neville approached Hermione skittishly.
-"Hermione, would you mind practicing with me?"- he asked with his eyes on the floor.
-"Not at all".- the Gryffindor said softly, getting in front of him.
-"Be gentle with me."- he begged.- "You know I am a plants person. Charms are definitely not my thing."
-"Don´t worry, Nev. It´ll be okay"- Hermione said quietly.- "Why don´t we start by warming up with a few confundus?"
Every couple flicked their wands to the pace of different spells. roamed the classroom holding another mug, chamomile this time, and looked quite pleased with herself.
-"Okay everybody, why don´t we make this a little bit more interesting?"- she asked swirling on her feet.- "Leave some room."- the professor commanded waving her hands.- "Chop, chop, chop, move to the sides my darlings!"- she shouted, as two platforms appeared with a rumbling sound.- "Well, you already know how this works! Check the board and get on it! "- she finished quite cheerfully.
Professor Blithe´s methods were far from traditional, but not a single student showed signs of boredom.
Names shifted every few minutes, exchanging places and repeating themselves as a few ones started to stand out.
Hermione went down the platform as she easily defeated another classmate. A hufflepuff this time.
She leant on one of the windows waiting for her next opponent. Her eyes on the school grounds, his hand resting upon the stone window stool. A timid sun ray crossed her face, illuminating her freckles.
-"Don´t think too highly of yourself"- Malfoy hissed, walking a few steps until the sun was reflecting on his face too.- "Hufflepuffs don´t count"- he established in a smirk.
-"We shall remove you from the board, then."- Hermione responded smiling back at him.
Malfoy´s eyes sparkled in silver, rolling up and down her face, cherishing the texture of her skin, longing to count her freckles. He was drunk in her vision. So wasted that he dared to graze her hand with two of his fingers, brushing her softness as she closed briefly her eyes to his touch.
-"You could use a challenge, Granger"- Draco said dragging each word.
-"Anytime Malfoy".
She looked at his back and the way his shoulder blades moved at the rhythm of his steps. She bit her lip harshly. God blessed that man and every inch of his perfect body.
-"Draco..."- Tracey Davis called for him in that sweetened voice of hers.- "I can´t get this right""- she said flicking his wand with a clueless look on her eyes.- "Can you show me how you do it? You are so good at it…"- she complimented highlighting each word batting her eyelashes coquettishly.
Anger spurted from his head. It spread through her veins making her blood boiled and her cheeks burnt. Each movement they made was projected in a close-up take inside her mind.
Fuck that Slytherin whore. How dare she touch him like that? As if she did not know how to perform a simple Expelliarmus. The fucking bitch.
-"You are gonna burn a hole through her."-
-"What?"- Hermione inquired leaning his eyes on the intruder who has interrupted her thoughts.-"I don´t know what you are talking about, Nott."
-"You might want to come up with a different line.."- Theo said rolling his wand across his knuckles.
-"Nott."- Hermione responded as her eyes roamed once again to Malfoy. He was showing Tracey movement per movement, at a very short distance. And oh my freaking god, he had corrected the posture of her hands by actually twisting each of her fingers softly. –"Sod off. I am busy."- she finished without being able to take her eyes away.
Malfoy caught a glimpse of her but this time he did not smile. Au contraire. His jaw clenched expressing contempt for the image his eyes had projected. Nott near her. Granger talking to him.
Jealousy pushed people to stupidity. To think, say and even do the most idiotic things.
-"They´d make a great couple."- Theo said pointing out at them with the end of his wand.-"We both know he fancies brunettes…"- Hermione rolled her eyes at him.- "too bad she isn´t pure-blooded. But Draco could make an exception, don´t you think?"
Hermione buried his nails in her palms, turning his hands into fists.
-"I couldn´t care less about what Malfoy could or could not do, Nott."- she spat.
-"Hey, I am on your team. Go Granger!"- he cheered raising his arm.- "I actually think something good can turn out of this…"
-"I don´t…"- she started bewildered. Did Theo know? Had Draco said something? She was gonna kill him.
-"Don´t lie to me. You are terrible at it, by the way."- Nott interrupted her.- "It´s okay. Your dirty little secret….well not that little truth to be told. I´d say massive…"
-"Nott."- Hermione scolded him.-"I am not having this conversation with you."
-"Granger, please. If you were that prim, you wouldn´t be with him at all."
-"I am not talking about the size of his dick with you. Period."- she whispered.- "Where is Parkinson? Aren´t you supposed to be fooling around and not giving a damn about your education?"
-"Pansy is a bit pissed. New professor got into her. Maybe it is because she looks so good on jeans, or because Pansy wants to wear them now…I am not sure, I couldn´t quite follow…Girls are complicated, you know."
-"Don´t tell."- Hermione said in a smirk. Nott was funny. Twisted, annoying but funny.
Suddenly, the board flashed Theo´s name alongside Draco´s.
-"Duty calls, sweetheart."- Nott said looking at her after seeing his name reflected.- "Don´t worry, I´ll go easy on him."- he winked at her as he went up on the platform.
-"It´s not him the one I am worry about."- Hermione responded shaking her head. Draco was mad at him. The wrath in his eyes had only increased as the class went by. And she could play dumb, but she knew that Theo´s little conversation with her had not helped him at all.
Her lips twitched and her shoulders went up and down to the sound of Theo´s body hitting the hard floor.
Yep. Draco Malfoy had defeated him in only 2 seconds. Literally.
-"Well done "- Professor Blithe congratulated.-"Great job."- she continued looking clearly impressed.-"I am sorry, buddy."- she muttered crouching on the floor next to Theo wrinkling her nose.-"You´d better go to the Infirmary."
-"I told ya so"- Hermione said to Theo, disappearing the slugs he just had vomited.
-"It was…."- another mollusk crawled from his throat all the way to his lips.-"completely worth it. Everything for…"- he gasped feeling another one coming.-"the truth."- he finished covering his mouth in a futile attempt to stop them.
Hermione watched as Pansy rushed to grab Theo from his arm leading him to the wooden door. She left but only after giving a menacing look towards her direction.
She frowned confused. Why was Parkinson glaring at her? She hadn´t done…That´s it. When she turned around, she found who had been the target.
-"A slug-vomiting spell?"- she inquired raising and eyebrow.-"Back to the second year?"
-"Who knew Weasel could come handy"-Malfoy said getting closer to her.-"Would you have preferred an unforgivable? A crucio would´ve just been fine…"- Hermione rolled her eyes at him.-"But you listened the lady. And I stunned him before it, Granger."- he said.-"You know I am not a one-move man."- Malfoy finished in his signature smile.
-"Childish and average"- Hermione declared.-"I still don´t get how you ended up so up on the board…"- she said raising her finger to his name. –"Do I know? ´cause I recall a few single moves…"-she whispered biting her lip.
-"Stop"- Malfoy ordered with his eyes locked on her full lips.
-"Never"- Hermione whispered, releasing her lower lip to graze it with her teeth again.
Draco held his breath. Fuck. That bloody woman would be the end of him.
-"Miss Granger"- Professor Blithe called.-"Hurry up my child! They are waiting for you".
Hermione blushed deeply as she had been discovered doing something bad. Well, teasing Malfoy in the middle of a class wasn´t precisely good, right?
-"I apologized Professor. I am coming"- Granger said removing her wand from his pocket.
-"Of course you are"- Malfoy said naughtily making her cheeks acquired a new shade of crimson.
If Hermione Granger thought Potions was interesting, then DADA was fascinating. Practicing useful spells while seeing Draco Malfoy the whole class, even sharing a few words when no one was looking. What else could she want?
Perhaps the last thought to be truth…
Hermione was side standing near the windows, in what she considered to be her spot in that classroom. Her right hand clenched in her wand, her shoulders down and her head high. Her wrist rotated softly tracing the movements required to cast a Stupefy.
Two sharp lines in opposite directions that joint where the other one start, Hermione mentally recited mimicking her words.
She was almost pleased with her motions, when she felt a hand sliding across her waist. She turned her head over her shoulder and petrified to who was looking back at her.
-"Excuse me…"- she said glaring at him.
-"Thought you could use some help". –Cormac McLaggen explained in an insolent way, his hand pressing down harder on her.
-"Haven´t you seen the board?"- Hermione asked trying to set free from his grip. – "Your help is clearly unsolicited"- she yanked off putting a few steps between them.- "Go back to your place and practice your moves. The first movement of your Incendio lacks fluidity. "
-"Why don´t…"-McLaggen started but choked on his words as Malfoy deliberately bumped into his shoulder.
-"Didn´t see you there Cormac."- Malfoy said facing him unapologetically.
-"Bet you did, Malfoy."- McLaggen said straightening his sore shoulder.- "Correct me if I am wrong.."- he started causing Malfoy to raise a brow. – "But I thought you didn´t do mudblood pussy"- Cormac said stressing the last words and pointing out Hermione.
The Gryffindor girl was outraged, about to burst in a fit of rage that would teach Cormac how to speak to women. But her anger was nothing compare to the fury that had emerged from the Slytherin. Draco Malfoy looked as if he was going to kill him. And for a minute, she thought he was going to do it, as Malfoy raised his wand in the air.
-"Malfoy"- Hermione called out making him stop She put herself in the middle of the crossfire, standing still between Cormac and Draco´s wand.-"If you are going to call me names, you could at least try to be a little bit more original. Mudblood pussy?-she inquired in an uneven smile.- "Racist."- she rolled her wand in her hand.-"Sexist."- she tossed it to the other.- "Basic and average, Cormac. Like your spells. Perhaps you could work on your insults, too."- Hermione recommended in a sugary voice.- "Now, leave before I chop your fucking hand off."- she threatened while casting a silencio.- "Guess you´ve said enough for today".
Cormac walked away grabbing his throat and looking infuriated. She smiled. Payback was a bitch called Hermione Granger, she thought.
She took a big breath trying to ease her mind before turning to see him. Malfoy was startled. Pride flashed in his eyes. Yes. Pride and desire for the fearless girl looking back at him.
-"I can take care of myself, you know."- she muttered pulling her wand down and falling deep in the grey of his eyes.
-"I know."- Malfoy responded nodding.
-"And besides…."- Hermione said pushing the hurtful thought to her lips.-"You´ve called me like that before. So why is the fuss?"- she asked in a broken smile. Draco paled to the pain in her voice. – "I´d better keep going."
-"Granger"- Draco said stopping her flee.
Hermione follow an imaginary line from his fingers coiled around her wrist to his silver eyes shining in a thousand words that remained unsaid.
She curved her lips in the same broken smile that had pierced his soul a moment ago, and moved back getting as far as she could from him, before her fragile strength faded completely.
She got herself to practice her movements again, stifling the screaming voices of her mixed feelings. But the Slytherin house would not leave her alone that day...
-"I know what you are doing"- Tracey Davis hissed folding her arms.
-"Congrats. Thought you didn´t know how to cast an Expelliarmus."- Hermione remarked, staring at her blankly.
-"You won´t get him. You know that, right?"- she asked making Hermione to stop mid-air with her wand.
-"I have no idea what you are talking about"- The Gryffindor girl lied, getting back to her moves rehearsal.
-"Malfoy"- Tracey said tasting his name.- "It´s not gonna work. So enough with your tangling mudblood techniques."
-"Oh my…"-Hermione shook her head in disbelief.-"Second time this day I heard that word. You people seriously need to come up with new ones…"- she leant on the wall folding her arms.-"Davis, you are a half-blood yourself. Guess what honey, we rolled in the same mud, so do yourself a favour keep your mouth shut"
-"You think you are so smart, don´t you?"- Tracey asked ignoring her.- "Have you ever thought what would happen with his family?"- Hermione´s lips turned into a flat line.-"You think they would accept someone like you? That they would welcome you to their bloodline? "- the Gryffindor felt her questions as punches to her stomach.- "Think again, Granger."- Davis said flicking a finger against her temple.- "You won´t have him."- she continued.-"You just can´t."
Hermione was about to reply when her name flashed on the board next to the Slytherin´s.
"-Good luck, Davis".- she hissed.-"you´ll need it."
She stepped up and got her wand from inside her sleeve. Her eyes rose to see Draco Malfoy at the end of the platform place next to the one she was standing on. His eyes fell harshly on her body, underlying her figure, trying to break through her.
Hermione looked away. She saw Cormac getting ready to duel against Malfoy. She clicked her tongue. He is gonna kill him, she thought, shivering as a hint of excitement run through her veins, forcing her to look at Draco again.
Hermione obliged, just in time to see her opponent sliding his hand across Draco´s arm and whispering something in a distance that everyone, everyfuckingone, would consider inappropriate.
There it was. The spurts of anger heating her from inside out, feeding her mind, powering her magic.
She did not think.
She just acted.
Her wand moved naturally to the pace of her wrist, tracing a few lines in the air before a blast of blue and purple struck Tracy. The explosion got her to hit the floor loudly, as flames blazed her skin. Her screams were harrowing. Unbearable.
Hermione walked all the way to where Tracy´s body was burning alive. She looked down at her, enjoying her pain, her suffering,
-"I can be with whoever I want, bitch."- she said casting the counter spell.
The flames disappeared alongside the darkness within her soul. She was terrified. What has she done?
When she finally was able to look up, she saw Cormac McLaggen agonizing in a pool of blood. Draco Malfoy was standing right beside him. His impeccable robes had been splashed some of it. And his eyes were drenched in delight.
Hermione met his eyes in the middle of the classroom, and shuddered as he recognized the same darkness she had felt in herself.
-"Miss Granger"- Professor Blithe called out-"Mister Malfoy."- she said flicking her wand to disappear the mess they have done-"Zabinni, go with them to the Infirmary. They are in need of some extra help. Though Miss Granger did an outstanding job casting the counter-spell"
Hermione felt her heart racing, pounding in her chest. The burning body of her classmate couldn´t get into her, but the mere thought of being expelled was killing her.
-"Professor Blithe I am…"- Hermione was extremely distraught.
"Sorry?"- the Professor finished her sentence conjuring a cup of green tea.- "Why would you be sorry for such an amazing performance?"- she took a sip closing her eyes to the flavor of the beverage. –"And if worried is what you are, there is no need for that either. You won´t get expelled my sweet child. Unforgivables were the only limit."- she explained softly.- "Though remember dark wizards won´t set themselves up in kids mode. They´ll use all they got. So don´t hold back. I mean it"
Professor Blithe roamed across the classroom as students looked at her as if she was out of her mind. Well, maybe she was but everything she said made so much sense.
-"Today we´ve seen an outstanding example of how emotions fueled magic."- she said looking at Malfoy and Granger.- "But be careful my dears, emotions may unleashed irrepressible forces as well as blind the most powerful of wizards."- she swallowed the rest of her tea.-"Class dismissed."- she said before getting to Draco.- "Mister Malfoy, it´s the second one you send to the Infirmary. Try to be gentler, please. You won´t believe the amount of papers I have to sign on your behalf!"
-"I´ll do my best, Professor Blithe."- Draco said before leaving the classroom.
-"Hermione".
Her name echoed in the corridors as she moved forward to the following class.
-"Hermione."- the voice insisted.
She kept on walking, but responded this time. She had acknowledged the owner and after that not answering wasn´t an option.
-"Harry"- she said.- "I am sorry but I am in a bit of a rush."- "please don´t ask, please don´t ask", she mentally begged.
But as most mental pleas, this one was also ignored.
-"What happened at DADA?"- Harry asked, his forehead frowned in actual concern.- "Are you okay?"
-"Nothing"- Hermione said swallowing hard.-"I just got a little bit carried away"
-"Carried away?-"Harry repeated, his green eyes wide open. –"Carried away you say? You burnt her alive, Hermione."
-"She deserved it."- she said impulsively.- "I didn´t mean…"-she continued softly after seeing Harry´s face.- "It was a duel. I followed the rules."
-"That is not the point."- the boy who lived hissed.- "You seriously injured her. And you were not the only one. What is going on between you and Malfoy?"
-"Me and Malfoy? "- the girl asked focusing on her breath.- "Are you listening to yourself? How do we even end up in the same sentence?"- Hermione asked, feeling the weight of guilt turning his stomach into a hollow pit.
-"I´ve seen you Mione."- Harry said looking away.-"I saw you the other day at Potions. Well, guess everyone saw that…"- he added adjusting his glasses.-"I´ve seen you at DADA…"- Harry stopped as if more words were unnecessary but continued anyway.-"And what´s more, I´ve seen him, how he looks at you….."- he paused.- "Shall I tell you to stay away from him? The bloke has been a git for years… do I need to remind you…"
-"You don´t fucking know him."- Hermione cried out, clenching her teeth.
Harry stopped in the middle of the hallway.
-"Nobody does."- Hermione corrected herself, wishing she could turn this around-"But we do know what a prick he can be"- she said gathering all her strength to pull a coy smile. –"I am okay, Harry. Tracey made a mean comment, a few of them actually, and I just acted recklessly."- Hermione explained, patting his arm down in reassurance.
Liar. Recklessly her ass. She had even measured the impact of the curse. Strong enough to hurt her. But not strong enough to actually kill her. Nope, she had wanted the bitch to suffer and at the same time getting away with it.
She shook her head trying to dismiss such horrendous and disturbing thoughts, stepping up the pace, when she suddenly bumped into something.
Uh.. that was funny. "How do you bump into something with your backside?", Hermione wandered turning around.
-"Malfoy"- Harry hissed, as he saw how Hermione shifted to the side due to the collision. –"Leave her alone. I mean it."
-"Potter"- Draco said in his distinctive sneering tone.- "Always so protective. I reckon the golden girl needs you."- his eyes rolled up and down Hermione.-"She showed how well she can take care of herself."- Draco finished in a smirk walking away as he owned the bloody world.
-"I am…"- Harry started furiously trying to get him from his cloak.
-"Harry, please…"- Hermione begged grabbing his arm.-"He is just trying to get into you. Ignore him."- she said taking another corridor and feeling a piece of paper in the bottom of her pocket. – "I must go Harry. Calm down. Picture him as the ferret he is, that has always help me."- she finished walking, almost running.
Once she was sitting at charms, waiting for the class to begin, she allowed herself to read it.
Meet me at our place at dinner-time.
p.s.: can´t wait until midnight.
Draco fucking Malfoy.
How was she going to focus? With those words in her pocket, and his body a few hours away.
I've been writing A LOT but I just keep procrastinating the uploads...
so here are a few new chapters!
Hope you enjoy them! I am so proud of these little babies!
A zillion thanks for each kudo!
they lit and warm my heart!
and for every bookmark
and for every time you come here to read my ff!
regards!
Anna
p.s.: Happy Birthday mom! Though you may never read this story (how akward that would be! haha) I wish you the happiest of birthdays! Thanks for being an icon of womanhood and independence, for teaching me to pursue my dreams, to be my own-self...
you really are the best!
I love you with my whole Slytherin/Gryffindor heart!