Ok, once again sorry for all the delay. When I started writing this ff, I
made one critical mistake - I didn't plan it!!! At the moment I'm just
writing as it comes to me, which is why it's taking so long. And it doesn't
help if I've got writer's block! If anyone has any ideas, either e-mail me,
or include them in your review! Weirdsista89@aol.com Thank you!
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"Don't think that I want to be here, Granger," Draco warned.
They were in the library, working on their Ageing Potion. Hermione cut her eyes at him.
"You know I don't want to be here Malfoy, so why don't you just shut your big mouth and actually *help* me with this project!" She replied icily.
Draco looked at her, slightly surprised.
"Alright, alright, keep your hair on," He mumbled.
He knew not to argue with her when she was in this mood. Hermione passed a book to Draco.
"Look through this to see if there's anything on the Ageing Potion's counter curse," She instructed.
He took the book silently - there was still fire in Hermione's eyes. Draco flicked through the pages, unable to concentrate. His arm was touching hers. Her skin was so soft.. He loved the way her hair fell across her face. Her face.... .She had the sweetest lips. So red and full. And a finely sculpted nose and thoughtful brown eyes that you could just sink into. She had a slender, curvaceous body, and long slim legs.
"Draco!"
He jumped.
"What?"
"Are you actually going to do any work at all?"
"It's a highly tiring job. You can't rush a genius."
"Such a shame you aren't one."
"Ouch, Granger. You hurt my feelings."
"What feelings?" Hermione laughed coldly.
Draco smiled, and her heart skipped a beat. His eyes were so blue and twinkled incessantly. His lips were so damn kissable. Strands of blond hair fell across his forehead. Draco's smiled grew wider as he caught her staring.
"Like what you see, Granger?"
"Not particularly," She shot back.
He laughed. This laugh was not hollow like the one normally used, but a laugh full of genuine mirth.
"What?" Hermione frowned.
"Nothing," He smiled. Man, she was cute when she was angry.
Hermione looked at her watch.
"I'd better go."
Draco raised his eyebrows.
"We've only been here half an hour."
Hermione blushed slightly. It'd been hard to sit next to him, even for 30 minutes. She could hardly take any more of it!
"Yeah, well, I said I'd meet Harry and Ron now."
Draco rolled his eyes at the mention of Harry and Ron.
"Fine, whatever," He said carelessly, "But remember that *you* were the one going on about working."
"I'll make it up later," Hermione shrugged. "Unlike *some* people."
Draco laughed again.
"At least I don't need to study 24/7 to get good grades."
"Hey! I don't *need* to - I want to!" Hermione said indignantly.
"Hey, relax," Draco soothed, "I was just fooling you around. Everyone knows you're the smartest in our year."
"Are you complimenting me?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"No, I was just merely stating the truth."
"Right..."
He smiled amusedly, as if to a private joke.
"Well, bye," Hermione said, unsure how to finish the conversation.
"Have a good time!" He cheerily replied.
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"It was really weird, I'm telling you," Hermione explained the events that had taken place that afternoon, "He was being...*nice* to me! I felt really freaked out; I didn't have a clue what to say! In the end I had to leave after only half an hour!"
"Probably fancies you," Ron said, while cramming a Chocolate Frog into his mouth, "Though that's not a good thing, seeing as it's Malfoy."
"Knowing him, he's up to something," Harry said thoughtfully, "He's certainly devious, going through you, Hermione..."
"That's the thing though!" Hermione said, exasperated, "I don't think that he's up to anything!"
The trio fell silent.
"Well, why be tolerable to you then?" Ron asked bluntly, "I mean, you're Muggle Born."
"Oh gee, Ron, of course no-one else is going to be kind to *me*, because *I'm* Hermione Granger; a Muggle Born!"
"You know I didn't mean it like that," Ron sighed, "I mean come on, it's *Malfoy*. He's always got some trick up his sleeve."
"Ron's right," Harry agreed, "You can't trust him: you can't trust any of the Malfoys."
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"Ok, we need to get things in order," Hutchins said. "Are we going to have a masked ball or not?"
"I think we should," Hannah Abbott interjected, "It's a great idea, really romantic!"
A couple of the boys scoffed at the word romantic.
"I agree with Hannah," Hermione added, "I think we should do it."
"Well I don't," Scylla, said bitterly, "It's a crappy idea!"
"I don't have any objections," Draco said silkily.
Everyone turned to look at the fair-haired boy amazedly.
"What? I changed my mind."
Hutchins raised his eyebrows. "It looks like we have an almost unanimous vote - except for Scylla, of course."
Scylla sighed, as if even being at this meeting was ruining her reputation.
"If Draco's agreed to it - " She shot a glance at him, just to make sure, " - then I'm ok with it."
Hutchins smiled. "Excellent! Now we need to make plans - first of all, the date. I vouch that it should be Christmas Eve."
Everyone nodded.
"Christmas Eve is perfect," Terry Boot seconded.
Obviously happy that his meeting was going to plan (for once) Hutchins smiled again.
"I'm glad we're all harmonious this meeting. Now, I believe we decided on Muggle attire."
Hutchins looked at Scylla, as if daring her to make his perfect meeting go wrong. She, in turn, looked at Draco, who shrugged offhandedly.
It seemed Hutchins smile couldn't grow much wider. "Superb! I'll make the arrangements with Professor Dumbledore as soon as possible. Meeting adjourned."
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"Why did you change your mind?" Hermione asked Draco as they left the Prefects meeting.
Draco looked at her. "It didn't seem like such a bad idea any more."
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "And I'm a flying Grindylow."
He smiled. "There's nothing wrong with changing my mind, is there?"
"No, of course not - I'm just interested to know *why* exactly."
"God, you aren't half nosy, Granger! Just because I may have been prejudiced towards Muggle Borns in the past, it does not mean that I'm still like that."
Hermione snickered. "But you were prejudiced last Prefects meeting."
Draco sighed heavily. "It takes a lot to satisfy you, doesn't it?"
Hermione grinned. "Uh-huh."
"I was just pointing out that it was a Muggle custom, that's all." Draco shrugged.
"Oh, so the sentence 'I think we should scrap the whole idea' means nothing to you?" Hermione laughed lightly.
Draco blushed slightly. "I changed my mind. Why are you so on my back all of a sudden? Scared that I'll turn back into my Muggle hating self?"
Hermione smiled. Oh God, not that smile, Draco thought.
"I guess I must be, if I'm questioning you so much."
"Well thanks for caring," Draco said, "But I'm a big boy now."
Hermione laughed. Oh God, not that laugh, Draco thought.
"Care to join me for Potions? It's our next lesson."
"Do I have any choice?" Draco joked, "We were assigned together."
Hermione's eyes sparkled. Oh God, not those eyes, Draco thought.
"That does play a minor part in my asking."
"Then of course I'd be delighted to accompany you," Draco smiled, "Just so long as we're agreed that it is purely on a work basis."
"Oh, certainly! I wouldn't be seen dead with you for any other reason," Hermione teased.
"Glad to know we're on the same level." Draco grinned.
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"You should nearing the half way stage of your Ageing Potion," Snape said, his voice oily, "And you should have completed most of your written work. I expect your essays - which, may I add, all had to be a minimum of two rolls of parchment, preferably three or four - on the consequences of the Ageing Potion, the history of the Ageing Potion and the counter curse for the Ageing Potion all on my desk by the end of this lesson."
There were a few hushed whispers. Hermione heard Ron mutter to Harry, "I only did two scrolls - what's the betting I only just pass?"
"About 1 in 500," Harry murmured back, "Snape hates your guts, as well as mine."
"Silence!" Snape hissed, "I will not tolerate talking in my class!"
Hermione looked at Draco. He seemed to be utterly bored, and was doodling on a piece of parchment. Even when bored, he's gorgeous, she thought, then mentally slapped herself. What am I saying? He's a Slytherin! I'm a Gryffindor! The two don't mix!
"Is my class to boring for you, Granger?" Snape ridiculed.
"No, Professor," Hermione answered.
"Well then pay attention!"
Hermione felt her cheeks burn. Snape had to be the only teacher that made her feel this embarrassed.
Draco saw Hermione's face turn pink. How dare Snape embarrass her! If anything, he should have been the one facing public humiliation - he had been dreaming long before her. But that would never happen of course - Severus always favoured his own house.
"Malfoy!"
He looked up. "What?"
"We're supposed start working now," Hermione said curtly.
"Oh, right."
Hermione and Draco both reached to take a Porcupine Quill, and their hands met. She blushed even further - partly because of the fact that Draco was in no hurry to remove his hand from hers.
"Erm, Malfoy?"
"Hmm?"
"Could you take your hand off mine now? I need to get on with this Potion."
Draco went a shade of light pink. "Sorry."
Her skin against his had felt so right, so fitting... So tender and warm. His hand still tingled from her touch.
Hermione was in heaven. His skin against hers had felt so proper. Her hand still tingled from his touch.
"Hermione, I love you," Draco said suddenly.
Her jaw dropped.
"P-pardon?"
Draco frowned. "I *said*, could you pass the Armadillo Bile please?"
Hermione passed him the jar silently. What on earth was that all about?
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Yaay, I finally managed to finish this chappie! Ok, well, I hope you liked it - please review!
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"Don't think that I want to be here, Granger," Draco warned.
They were in the library, working on their Ageing Potion. Hermione cut her eyes at him.
"You know I don't want to be here Malfoy, so why don't you just shut your big mouth and actually *help* me with this project!" She replied icily.
Draco looked at her, slightly surprised.
"Alright, alright, keep your hair on," He mumbled.
He knew not to argue with her when she was in this mood. Hermione passed a book to Draco.
"Look through this to see if there's anything on the Ageing Potion's counter curse," She instructed.
He took the book silently - there was still fire in Hermione's eyes. Draco flicked through the pages, unable to concentrate. His arm was touching hers. Her skin was so soft.. He loved the way her hair fell across her face. Her face.... .She had the sweetest lips. So red and full. And a finely sculpted nose and thoughtful brown eyes that you could just sink into. She had a slender, curvaceous body, and long slim legs.
"Draco!"
He jumped.
"What?"
"Are you actually going to do any work at all?"
"It's a highly tiring job. You can't rush a genius."
"Such a shame you aren't one."
"Ouch, Granger. You hurt my feelings."
"What feelings?" Hermione laughed coldly.
Draco smiled, and her heart skipped a beat. His eyes were so blue and twinkled incessantly. His lips were so damn kissable. Strands of blond hair fell across his forehead. Draco's smiled grew wider as he caught her staring.
"Like what you see, Granger?"
"Not particularly," She shot back.
He laughed. This laugh was not hollow like the one normally used, but a laugh full of genuine mirth.
"What?" Hermione frowned.
"Nothing," He smiled. Man, she was cute when she was angry.
Hermione looked at her watch.
"I'd better go."
Draco raised his eyebrows.
"We've only been here half an hour."
Hermione blushed slightly. It'd been hard to sit next to him, even for 30 minutes. She could hardly take any more of it!
"Yeah, well, I said I'd meet Harry and Ron now."
Draco rolled his eyes at the mention of Harry and Ron.
"Fine, whatever," He said carelessly, "But remember that *you* were the one going on about working."
"I'll make it up later," Hermione shrugged. "Unlike *some* people."
Draco laughed again.
"At least I don't need to study 24/7 to get good grades."
"Hey! I don't *need* to - I want to!" Hermione said indignantly.
"Hey, relax," Draco soothed, "I was just fooling you around. Everyone knows you're the smartest in our year."
"Are you complimenting me?" Hermione asked, puzzled.
"No, I was just merely stating the truth."
"Right..."
He smiled amusedly, as if to a private joke.
"Well, bye," Hermione said, unsure how to finish the conversation.
"Have a good time!" He cheerily replied.
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"It was really weird, I'm telling you," Hermione explained the events that had taken place that afternoon, "He was being...*nice* to me! I felt really freaked out; I didn't have a clue what to say! In the end I had to leave after only half an hour!"
"Probably fancies you," Ron said, while cramming a Chocolate Frog into his mouth, "Though that's not a good thing, seeing as it's Malfoy."
"Knowing him, he's up to something," Harry said thoughtfully, "He's certainly devious, going through you, Hermione..."
"That's the thing though!" Hermione said, exasperated, "I don't think that he's up to anything!"
The trio fell silent.
"Well, why be tolerable to you then?" Ron asked bluntly, "I mean, you're Muggle Born."
"Oh gee, Ron, of course no-one else is going to be kind to *me*, because *I'm* Hermione Granger; a Muggle Born!"
"You know I didn't mean it like that," Ron sighed, "I mean come on, it's *Malfoy*. He's always got some trick up his sleeve."
"Ron's right," Harry agreed, "You can't trust him: you can't trust any of the Malfoys."
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"Ok, we need to get things in order," Hutchins said. "Are we going to have a masked ball or not?"
"I think we should," Hannah Abbott interjected, "It's a great idea, really romantic!"
A couple of the boys scoffed at the word romantic.
"I agree with Hannah," Hermione added, "I think we should do it."
"Well I don't," Scylla, said bitterly, "It's a crappy idea!"
"I don't have any objections," Draco said silkily.
Everyone turned to look at the fair-haired boy amazedly.
"What? I changed my mind."
Hutchins raised his eyebrows. "It looks like we have an almost unanimous vote - except for Scylla, of course."
Scylla sighed, as if even being at this meeting was ruining her reputation.
"If Draco's agreed to it - " She shot a glance at him, just to make sure, " - then I'm ok with it."
Hutchins smiled. "Excellent! Now we need to make plans - first of all, the date. I vouch that it should be Christmas Eve."
Everyone nodded.
"Christmas Eve is perfect," Terry Boot seconded.
Obviously happy that his meeting was going to plan (for once) Hutchins smiled again.
"I'm glad we're all harmonious this meeting. Now, I believe we decided on Muggle attire."
Hutchins looked at Scylla, as if daring her to make his perfect meeting go wrong. She, in turn, looked at Draco, who shrugged offhandedly.
It seemed Hutchins smile couldn't grow much wider. "Superb! I'll make the arrangements with Professor Dumbledore as soon as possible. Meeting adjourned."
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"Why did you change your mind?" Hermione asked Draco as they left the Prefects meeting.
Draco looked at her. "It didn't seem like such a bad idea any more."
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "And I'm a flying Grindylow."
He smiled. "There's nothing wrong with changing my mind, is there?"
"No, of course not - I'm just interested to know *why* exactly."
"God, you aren't half nosy, Granger! Just because I may have been prejudiced towards Muggle Borns in the past, it does not mean that I'm still like that."
Hermione snickered. "But you were prejudiced last Prefects meeting."
Draco sighed heavily. "It takes a lot to satisfy you, doesn't it?"
Hermione grinned. "Uh-huh."
"I was just pointing out that it was a Muggle custom, that's all." Draco shrugged.
"Oh, so the sentence 'I think we should scrap the whole idea' means nothing to you?" Hermione laughed lightly.
Draco blushed slightly. "I changed my mind. Why are you so on my back all of a sudden? Scared that I'll turn back into my Muggle hating self?"
Hermione smiled. Oh God, not that smile, Draco thought.
"I guess I must be, if I'm questioning you so much."
"Well thanks for caring," Draco said, "But I'm a big boy now."
Hermione laughed. Oh God, not that laugh, Draco thought.
"Care to join me for Potions? It's our next lesson."
"Do I have any choice?" Draco joked, "We were assigned together."
Hermione's eyes sparkled. Oh God, not those eyes, Draco thought.
"That does play a minor part in my asking."
"Then of course I'd be delighted to accompany you," Draco smiled, "Just so long as we're agreed that it is purely on a work basis."
"Oh, certainly! I wouldn't be seen dead with you for any other reason," Hermione teased.
"Glad to know we're on the same level." Draco grinned.
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"You should nearing the half way stage of your Ageing Potion," Snape said, his voice oily, "And you should have completed most of your written work. I expect your essays - which, may I add, all had to be a minimum of two rolls of parchment, preferably three or four - on the consequences of the Ageing Potion, the history of the Ageing Potion and the counter curse for the Ageing Potion all on my desk by the end of this lesson."
There were a few hushed whispers. Hermione heard Ron mutter to Harry, "I only did two scrolls - what's the betting I only just pass?"
"About 1 in 500," Harry murmured back, "Snape hates your guts, as well as mine."
"Silence!" Snape hissed, "I will not tolerate talking in my class!"
Hermione looked at Draco. He seemed to be utterly bored, and was doodling on a piece of parchment. Even when bored, he's gorgeous, she thought, then mentally slapped herself. What am I saying? He's a Slytherin! I'm a Gryffindor! The two don't mix!
"Is my class to boring for you, Granger?" Snape ridiculed.
"No, Professor," Hermione answered.
"Well then pay attention!"
Hermione felt her cheeks burn. Snape had to be the only teacher that made her feel this embarrassed.
Draco saw Hermione's face turn pink. How dare Snape embarrass her! If anything, he should have been the one facing public humiliation - he had been dreaming long before her. But that would never happen of course - Severus always favoured his own house.
"Malfoy!"
He looked up. "What?"
"We're supposed start working now," Hermione said curtly.
"Oh, right."
Hermione and Draco both reached to take a Porcupine Quill, and their hands met. She blushed even further - partly because of the fact that Draco was in no hurry to remove his hand from hers.
"Erm, Malfoy?"
"Hmm?"
"Could you take your hand off mine now? I need to get on with this Potion."
Draco went a shade of light pink. "Sorry."
Her skin against his had felt so right, so fitting... So tender and warm. His hand still tingled from her touch.
Hermione was in heaven. His skin against hers had felt so proper. Her hand still tingled from his touch.
"Hermione, I love you," Draco said suddenly.
Her jaw dropped.
"P-pardon?"
Draco frowned. "I *said*, could you pass the Armadillo Bile please?"
Hermione passed him the jar silently. What on earth was that all about?
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Yaay, I finally managed to finish this chappie! Ok, well, I hope you liked it - please review!