A/N: Hello! This is my first ever *published* story. I have multiple chapters pre-written already, story will be updated weekly/bi-weekly depending on my schedule.
I know there are probably many mistakes, and hopefully I can find an editor soon to help with that. Please let me know what your thoughts are!
Enjoy :)
xoxo - SageSpace
October
Hermione was running through the halls of Hogwarts like she was being chased by a dementor, the snap of her Mary Janes on the stone below echoed off the walls eerily.
She wanted to kick herself for losing track of time reading in the library. Abruptly she slammed into another body that seemed to have appeared out of thin air. She hadn't seen anyone in her path before she crashed into them but she was so late she barely even looked up as she began to gather her fallen bag and some of its contents.
"I should have expected that you wouldn't even have the decency to apologize after attempting to knock me on my arse." A low bored drawl sounded from just above her.
Hermione paused in her efforts to shove her things back in her school bag. Of course it had to be Draco Malfoy. In her flustered state she couldn't even come up with a decent retort. Having finally gotten her possessions settled she stood and was surprised by how close the tall blonde was. She had to tilt her head further back than she had thought to catch his piercing gray eyes, cool and impassive as always.
"Sorry Malfoy. I was in a rush." Hermione didn't feel like arguing today. She had done enough with Harry earlier.
Malfoy snorted indignantly before speaking. "And where is it that you were in such a rush to get that you forgot your manners?" Though the words themselves were meant to offend her, they were delivered in a much quieter tone than she was used to from him.
Hermione ignored his question pushing past him continuing her brisk pace down the hall. When she noticed he was now keeping up with her it dawned on her that he shared the same destination, and he was staring at her expecting a reply.
"Class, Malfoy. Obviously. And looks like I'm not the only one that will be arriving late. Pray tell what kept YOU?" Hermione was in no mood to be pestered. She was late because of her "cool down" in the library after she had a row with Harry and she did not want to be even later due to Malfoy.
"That would be a secret. I'm sure you understand, I can't imagine how hard it has been keeping the whole school on its toes about which boy wonder you've snogged yet."
Hermione rolled her eyes but held her tongue. They walked quickly together towards the last door on the right in silence, a rare treat when concerning a certain white haired bully. She couldn't help but find it odd, he normally took any chance he got to viciously degrade and dehumanize her.
It struck her as odd indeed.
Finally she was pushing the classroom door open, thanking Merlin that it was only a minute passed. Professor Slughorn hadn't even begun his lesson yet.
"Miss Granger! And Mister Malfoy! Welcome, welcome! Please find your seats so that we may begin." The Professor exclaimed merrily, not even mentioning their tardiness.
Hermione's cheeks flamed with embarrassment as she headed towards the only open seat on the far right side. As she began to arrange her utensils and books she heard the chair next hers scrape back and a body plop down into it.
She was about to tell the boy to find another seat when Professor Slughorn clapped his hands together enthusiastically and dove into today's lesson. Hermione folded her arms and scooched further away from him, the nerve!
"Today students I have prepared something a bit different! It will include some effort in and out of the classroom and it will need to be done with your assigned partners."
Malfoy groaned beside her as they realized that they would most likely be paired up for the project. She turned to him and gave him a hard look for interrupting, earning an exaggerated eye roll in return, before focusing back on the instructions.
"Each pair will pick a potion and will have to brew it together, plus write an essay on the uses and dangers to the potion. I would also like you to each try your potion and write down your findings, of course done with the observations of your partner." The professor gave a glance around the room, switching a couple of students around before smiling happily and grabbing a clear jar of white folded cards.
"Professor! Please. May I have a different partner?" Malfoy interrupted once more, Hermione could hear the unmasked hatred dripping from his voice. She scowled at him but refrained from saying anything that may get her into trouble.
"Mr. Malfoy. My choices are final." With that the professor began walking around letting each pair pull a card and discussing the potion written inside, giving feedback and answering questions.
When he finally made it to Malfoy and herself they both instantly reached for the jar, their hands awkwardly jammed together just inside the rim. Hermione yanked her hand back like she had been burned and let Malfoy pick one. She heard him snort when he opened the neatly folded card and peering over she could understand why.
"Oh honestly." She sighed.
Amortentia. The "love" potion.
"You better not get any wicked ideas, Granger." Malfoy whispered to her.
"As if I would want you lusting after me, you prat!" Hermione could not imagine a world in which she wanted Malfoy in such a way. Hell would have to freeze over first as far as she was concerned.
"Well I wouldn't be surprised. I'd be quite the catch for someone of your… status."
"Malfoy. Shut up."
"Any questions about your assignment?" The professor cut in. Hermione had quite forgotten the man that was still standing beside their shared desk.
"Uhhh… No. I don't think so, Professor." Hermione answered politely.
Slughorn gave a proud smile. "Well I expect nothing but the best from my top students. I know you two will make a great pair, and I must admit I look forward to seeing the final product." Hermione beamed at the praise from her teacher and thanked him before he moved on. What she didn't notice was the way Malfoy was staring at her.
She promptly opened her book and found the chapter on Amortentia quickly making a list of all the ingredients. Some of them would need to be gathered at night, something she would happily do by herself.
Hermione didn't realize Malfoy had been watching her until he commented on her work. "Hey, why've you circled half the ingredients?"
Hermione stopped writing and put her quill down, turning in her seat to look at his too pointy features.
"These will be the most trivial or difficult to obtain, a task I would rather do on my own." she sniffed, she would much rather not spend more time with him than absolutely necessary,
"I'm not going to get a failing grade because you can't follow directions. I'm amazed the thought of missing a step in Slughorns carefully planned project even crossed your nerdy little brain. No, we are to do this together. Merlin knows you need some eye candy while you do all the work." His lips turned up in a curious joking half smile and Hermione gave a short laugh which stopped just as soon as it had started. She stared at the boy beside her in shock, eyes wide and owlish.
Malfoy had actually made her laugh.
"Oh don't look at me like that. I know Potty and Weaselbee can hardly rub two brain cells together to perform basic tasks, let alone form witty statements, but we don't all have the same handicap, Granger." Malfoy finished in a huff. He grabbed the book from her reading over the potions ingredients and instructions.
"Just caught me off guard is all." Hermione didn't quite know how to respond honestly.
"So, this potion needs to be brewed by moonlight. The astronomy tower should be sufficient. Let's meet tonight after dinner and get everything set up and then we can start the brew."
That was twice in less than a minute that Draco Malfoy surprised Hermione.
One, he had made her laugh.
Two, he had amicably decided on a plan for their project without fighting her.
"Y-yeah. That's sounds… good? Yes. Um.. after dinner then? Yes?" Malfoy stared at her oddly as she stammered through her sentence, her face flamed once more but she refused to break eye contact.
Get it together. She thought to herself.
"Sure. I'll meet you there."
He stood and gathered his things, grabbing his notes and hers neatly placing them in the textbook to save the page before handing it back to her.
Her face scrunched up in confusion before she asked where he was going. The only answer she got was a shrug as he walked away and out of the classroom.
"I can't believe you got stuck with the ferret as a partner, 'Mione. He's such a wanker." Ron said around chewing. Hermione made a face before silently handing him a napkin for the food he just spewed all over his lips. Watching Ron eat made Hermione slightly sick to her stomach so she looked away to find Harry staring at her with narrowed eyes.
They had argued earlier about Malfoy. Harry was so convinced that he was a Death Eater, he had been following him since the start of term and talking about his findings nightly until Hermione had finally had enough and attempted to sway him from the subject. That had not gone well.
"Are you on my side or not!?" Harry had yelled.
"I am on the side of truth! And you are grasping at straws Harry Potter. I do not want to hear Malfoys' every move! This is getting ridiculous! YOU are getting ridiculous!" She had screamed back.
Harry had stood from his chair in the common room so violently that it flung backwards with a loud bang, causing both her and Ron to jump at the sound. Without another word Harry left them staring at him in shock.
"Hermione, you need to find out what he is up to. If you could jus-" Harry started but she interrupted.
"Harry, we've been over this. Several times. I do not think Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater." she whispered across the table.
He shook his head in irritation before meeting her gaze once more, his bright green eyes flashing with anger.
"Please Hermione. Please just try to find something out." Harry pleaded with her.
Though she did not share his stance on Malfoy's involvement in the impending war, she could not deny that Malfoy may have valuable information. Getting anything out of him would be very difficult, but for Harry? She would try.
"Okay. I will tell you anything that seems important. Happy?" Hermione would do anything for her two best friends. Even if it meant doing something she did not agree with.
Harry smiled brilliantly and grabbed her hand tightly.
"Thank you! He is up to something Hermione, I know it! He has been acting strange since the start of term."
Hermione stole a glance over at the Slytherin table, searching for a shock of white hair among the other students seated for dinner. Only to find him missing. Maybe he had gone ahead up to the astronomy tower?
"He seems like slimy old Malfoy to me." Ron commented, mouth still stuffed with food.
"Ron! Swallow before you speak! I would like to leave this table without wearing your meal." Hermione exclaimed while handing him another napkin, this time for his hands.
Once she finished her dinner Hermione checked her bag to make sure she had everything before leaving her friends for the night. Promising them she would meet them in the common room later.
Lost in thought she wandered the halls towards the tower, they would have to first collect some things from the garden tonight in order to start tomorrow. Hermione should have suggested they meet there first, but she was so flustered in class that the idea didn't even pop into her head until much later, and since he wasn't at dinner she couldn't have suggested it to him then.
Making it to the landing she pushed open the door only to be met with the sound of soft sobs. Curious, Hermione padded quietly deeper into the room.
She was shocked to see Malfoy stood with both hands tightly gripping the railing, his shoulders shaking with each eruption of tears. She could only see his side profile but there was a slight glisten to his cheek. Hermione took a step towards him, but stopped herself when she realized her first instinct was to comfort the boy like she would Ron or Harry.
Having been alerted to her arrival Malfoy abruptly turned towards her. Frozen in spot Hermione's mind went blank, their project completely forgotten.
"Granger."
His voice snapped her out of her daze and she took off towards the door.
There was definitely something up with Malfoy.
Thank you all for reading! First chapter is a bit short but the rest will be longer and more detailed.
Please let me know what you think!
Until next time! - SageSpace