Authors' Note: Thank you for all of your reviews! It's really fun reading
them! We're getting pretty busy with our conversations about the
development of the story, so we hope you'll like what we've come up with.
We're sorry that some of the Latin terms (i.e. curses) are just the Latin
translations of the word/s. We do not have any Latin class, therefore we
are absolutely in the dark with the curses and stuff. If you know any other
Latin terms or if you are fluent in Latin, please help us! Thank you!
Meanwhile, on with the story!
Chapter 4: Glimpses
Hermione walked alone. For the first time in ages, she was walking alone towards the Great Hall for breakfast Monday morning. She usually got up first before any of the other prefects did but before the incident, Harry and Ron used to come and pick her up and they would walk together.
But now, she was avoiding them like the plague. Harry didn't know a thing that was for sure. And he was probably wondering why the last few weeks were spent with Hermione going with Lavender and Parvati. Hermione was even avoiding Ginny as well. After all, Ginny was Ron's sister.
How she wished she could've used the time turner and make it all right again... but she couldn't. Using the time turner meant going to Dumbledore and asking for permission to use it... and she couldn't just blurt out the reason why she wanted to use the time turner in the first place, now could she? That would mean telling Dumbledore about her... assault. And she didn't want to do that.
It was not that she was afraid of Ron and his threats... those were partly the reason for not telling anybody. She was afraid that people might look at her differently. If she did tell and it got around... then people might accuse her of deserving what happened to her. No one, not one single person in the world deserved what happened to her.
Sighing, she entered the Great Hall. A few students were scattered here and there, talking and eating. To her surprise, Lavender and Parvati were already there. Smiling, she walked towards them and sat next to Parvati.
"Hey Hermione!" Parvati greeted, giving her friend a quick hug. Hermione laughed at her friend's gesture. Lavender smiled at her as well.
"Hey guys! What brings you two in here this early?" Hermione asked, getting a few slices of toast and some fruit preserves.
"Oh nothing... we were getting tired of the Gryffindor room, especially with you not being there with us!" Lavender replied. Contrary to popular belief, they were pretty good friends during the last past years, even when Hermione was still with Harry and Ron.
Hermione laughed, "Thanks..."
"And besides... we get to see the cute quidditch guys coming from team practice." Parvati added. "Like the Slytherin team right there!" She said, pointing to the Slytherin table.
Both Hermione and Lavender turned to look and saw the whole Slytherin team in their quidditch uniforms wolfing down their breakfast. Hermione chuckled.
"You like anyone on the Slytherin team, Parvati?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought we still had those house rivalries?"
"Well, yes..." Parvati answered meekly.
"Well, house rivalries or no, I still think that the Slytherin team is the best-looking team of all." Lavender whispered.
"Lavender!" Hermione chided.
"I said best-looking, not the best team..." Lavender defended, stifling a giggle. "I know how loyal you are to Harry and Ron."
The mention of Ron's name brought chills down Hermione's spine. Muttering a soft "Yeah, I am..." she went back to her breakfast. Luckily, both Parvati and Lavender were now in a deep conversation about who was the cutest in the whole Slytherin quidditch team. Hermione chose to tune out their conversation.
Just then Harry and Ron bounded towards the Gryffindor table. Whatever was left of Hermione's poise was shattered when the two sat down next to her. Ron put an arm around Hermione and smiled a sunny smile at her. Inside, Hermione was trembling and wishing that she were in another place... anywhere, even in the Slytherin table. Just as long as she was far away from Ron as possible.
"Hey Hermione! How are you today?" Ron asked, ignoring her slight trembling and her frightened disposition. Harry smiled at her as well.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking, Ron." She said in a small voice, looking down at her plate and shrugging off his violating arm around her. Slowly, so as not to alarm, she scooted nearer to Parvati and kept her head down.
Ron's anger blazed inside of him. If anyone happened to notice her state when she was with him, they would ask questions... And so, keeping a cool front, he lent over to Hermione's side and whispered in her ear.
"Don't you ever act like that in front of me..." He whispered in a malicious tone.
"Act like what?" Hermione whispered back, her voice small and definitely frightened.
"Like you're scared of me."
But I am scared of you! Hermione wanted to scream out, but knew that she very well couldn't. Instead, she nodded her head and willed her nerves to relax. He was threatening her again, but she must not let it show that it really affected her. Taking a few deep breaths, she finally willed herself to look up. And she met the steely blue eyes of Draco Malfoy.
She wanted to cry right then and there. She couldn't take it anymore. First there was Ron who was forcing her to be friendly to him as if nothing had happened when something bad did. Then there was Harry who refused to think that something had happened. And finally there was Malfoy who was close to knowing what he shouldn't know. Bringing her gaze back down, she ate the rest of her food in silence.
Draco watched the whole exchange. He was watching her the second she stepped into the Great Hall. When she came in, she was relaxed and cheery, especially when she sat down next to her girl friends. She was smiling and she laughed as well. But when one of her friends said something, she immediately paled and closed up. When Weasley and Potter came in, it seemed that she broke... on the inside. Now, even from afar, he saw the trembling of her hands and the uptightness of her body.
What the hell brought that on? Both Potter and Weasley acted the way they always did... but it was Hermione who was unnerved. When Draco thought about it, he almost never ran into the three of them together. During class, he would either have only Hermione as a classmate in one subject, and Potter and Weasley in another. There was only one subject that they all had together: Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Draco stood up at once and walked briskly towards the entrance of the Great Hall. He only had half an hour to take a bath and change from his qudditch uniform to his school uniform. To his luck, Defense Against the Dark Arts was the first class today, meaning that he had a whole period to study Hermione Granger and what made her so... unlike her usual self. Something had happened... if he couldn't figure out what, he would have to ask her himself.
While walking towards the prefects' quarters, he thought about why he was so interested in Hermione Granger's affairs. Before, he couldn't care less about what was going on with her and would've jumped in joy that she was now like this... but that was before. Something in her made him want to know everything about her. He couldn't understand what it was exactly. Whatever it was, he would have to deal with that later... knowing what was wrong with Hermione was the first on his list.
* * *
Whatever he saw during breakfast in the Great Hall that morning, he saw more of during class.
Professor Lupin was reinstated to teach once again in Hogwarts since their fifth year, therefore dispelling the said curse about the Defense Against the Dark Arts. He was in better shape now and he was always kind and considerate, even towards the Slytherins.
"Good morning class." Professor Lupin greeted warmly as he did every day for the past weeks that they have been going to school. Half of the class responded warmly as well; as for the other half, they merely nodded their heads.
"I know that during the past year and for the past weeks as well, we have been going through the same routine in class." Professor Lupin continued. "Well now, I've devised a new way to get you students to cooperate and for me to teach better."
Brows furrowed and people looked at each other in confusion and slightly with fear. No one had a single clue about what the professor was saying. Lupin smiled at them, noticing the looks he was being given, especially by Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"I also know that Slytherin and Gryffindor haven't exactly been..." He trailed off, as if searching for the correct word. "Willing to forget their house differences." He finished with a smile.
Eyes rolled and some snorted. Of course, Professor, where are you going with all of this? They wanted to ask but couldn't.
"I do have a point, children." Professor Lupin assured, still smiling like mad. "And to prove my point, I have written down all the topics we will discuss up until the Christmas break. But, to make this two and a half months different, I will pair each and everyone with a member of the other house."
Before the groans, protests and violent reactions could be made, Professor Lupin quickly followed up his statement. "Each pair will do a research on the topic I will give. This does not only give you students a chance to actually study and rely on yourselves to get a grade in this subject; this will also promote better relationships between houses." He looked around and saw the sour faces of his class. "Well, you can give me all those looks and I would not change a thing. I have asked Headmaster Dumbledore's permission on this and he has agreed that it is a wonderful idea: to get at least some of the students in both houses to cooperate and work with each other."
Hermione's hand shot up in the air. Some people groaned and rolled their eyes at her eagerness, Draco included.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Professor Lupin asked.
"What will we do with the research?" Hermione asked. "And how will we be graded?"
Leave it to the Gryffindor know-it-all to ask about the research's actual usage and grade. Draco thought idly as he turned to the Professor. Draco was seated at the very back of the room. Despite his love for the subject, he refused to let his enthusiasm show. Only the professor knew of Draco's interest.
"Ah, very good that you have brought up those particular points, Miss Granger." Professor Lupin answered. "The research will be passed to me and we will discuss every topic briefly in class. To promote more friendship and goodwill, all of you must discuss what you have gathered amongst yourselves during this period. You will be graded on how extensive and veritable your research is. And you will also be graded on how you participate in these discussions."
After having said that, he turned to the other students. "Anymore questions?" He asked. When no one asked, he then turned to his desk and brought out a sheet of parchment from his drawer. The class definitely looked apprehensive as they waited for their name to be called.
All the pairs have been called out and asked to sit beside each other when Professor looked up from his list to see if all had a partner. He frowned when he saw that Hermione and Draco both had no partners in sight.
"Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy. Where are your respective partners?" He asked. The rest of the class to turned to the both of them. It was quite a sight, seeing as Hermione sat at the very front and Draco sat at the very back. Draco raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest, as if he didn't need to answer the question.
"Well sir, if I may speak on behalf of Mal-, I mean, of Draco..." Hermione started with some difficulty as she said Draco's name. She looked behind her and sure enough, Draco's indifference meant that he didn't give a damn if she explained why they both didn't have their partners; he didn't give a damn if she explained his existence on earth either. But that's beside the point.
Hermione continued, facing the professor who looked at her expectantly. "Well, sir. Paul Addison was supposed to be my partner but as you may know, since he transferred from Durmstang, he has been busy all these weeks doing extra credit work to catch up with the rest of us. Parvati Patil was supposed to be Mal-, I mean, Draco's partner, but she had to be excused from class today, as she is in the infirmary due to her sister, Padma having an accident a few minutes before class. I think her excuse letter is on your desk, sir."
"Well, Miss Granger. Thank you for that report." Professor answered lightly. "But, since the remaining minutes of this period call for you doing your outline of the research topics I still have to give out, then I suggest that you and Mister Malfoy pair up. As for Miss Patil and Mister Addison, I will call them later and give them their topic."
"But sir...!" Hermione started to protest. Draco hands clenched and rested on the table in front of him. Other than that, he did not make any noise or protest.
"I am sorry, Miss Granger. But I cannot let you two do nothing for the remainder of the period." The professor said.
"But sir, I can do the outline without Paul's help. I'm sure Malfoy, um... Draco, can do it as well." Hermione argued. She turned to Draco and he nodded his head. She looked back to the professor.
Professor Lupin was shaking his head. "I am sorry, but I cannot let Paul and Parvati have the grade in which they did not help at all. You will be paired up with Mister Malfoy."
Hermione, having no other thing to say, turned to Draco for help. Draco cleared his throat.
"Professor?" He called out. Professor Lupin turned to him and looked at him expectantly. "Grang- Hermione and I are both prefects, Sir. I think it would be unfair to the rest if we would happen to work together on this project."
Hermione's face brightened and she quickly turned to the Professor with a hopeful look. Draco gave a small smile when he saw her act and look like that. He almost forgot that she was looking and acting like that because she wanted to get out of being partnered with him. He quickly suppressed the smile into a scowl.
"Yes, I am well aware of that fact, Mister Malfoy. But I think that Defense Against the Dark Arts isn't really Miss Granger's forte." The professor remarked, smiling. Hermione's alabaster skin went crimson and she stared down at her hands. "And I believe that you are very proficient, Mister Malfoy. And so, I don't think there would be any more problems with fairness. Now, please pair up and I shall begin with the distribution of the research topics."
But Draco did not make a move towards Hermione. And she him. Hermione was still staring down at her hands, while Draco stayed in his slouched, I- don't-give-a-damn position.
"Mister Malfoy?" Professor Lupin looked at Draco expectantly. Groaning, Draco got his things and walked towards the very front of the class. The professor smiled and went back to his list of topics. Suddenly, Draco was whirled around when someone grabbed his arm. It was Ron.
"You ever hurt her, I'll kill you myself." Ron said venomously. He whispered it so that his seatmate, Slytherin Pansy Parkinson wouldn't hear it. Instead of being intimidated, Draco smirked.
"What are you talking about, Weasley?" Draco asked as he pulled his arm back and gave Ron a glare. Then he went towards Hermione and sat down on the empty chair next to her. He sat down with such a bang that Hermione jumped and let out a gasp. Draco looked at her in confusion.
"What's wrong with you, Granger? Feeling jumpy all the time or is it just with me?" Draco drawled. Hermione looked uncertainly from him to someone at the back. She shook her head and went back to staring at her hands.
Just at that moment, Professor Lupin gave them a small sheet of parchment which was folded up. Hermione looked up and took it, ignoring the look Draco was giving her.
Great! I'm stuck with the Gryffindor know-it-all who's probably not a know- it-all anymore since she's so bad in this subject. Draco thought sarcastically. But, at least I'll get to study her and why she's just so jumpy all the time.
Hermione was reading the small piece of parchment when she let out a small, frightened sound. This snapped Draco out of his thoughts and looked at her.
"What?" He asked. She didn't answer, except she merely handed him the parchment with shaking hands. Draco took the paper and read it.
Inside was written: 'Research on the Rapere Curse or the rape curse.'
Draco glanced at Hermione and saw that she was still shaking and breathing heavily. Something happened to her that affected her so bad that she shakes by just reading about this rape curse. Draco thought.
"Come on, Granger. Let's get started on this." Draco said, taking out some parchment and his quill. Hermione nodded and they started to work.
Well, Draco worked, Hermione only gave a few comments here and there about what they should outline on the Curse. They handed in their paper long before anyone else in the classroom and were left with doing nothing for the rest of the period. Hermione was trying to calm her nerves down, quite unsuccessfully. Draco chose to ignore her shakings, but he kept it to memory... something he would think about later.
Soon, class ended and all of them started to gather up their things. Hermione was the first one out the door, wanting to be away from everyone and not waiting for either Harry or Ron.
Get a grip, Malfoy! He scolded himself as he gathered up his books and headed out the door. What happened to her is none of your business! Haven't you learned that?!
But he usually contradicted himself these days, because deep inside, he wanted to make her his business, no matter what.
Fuck it! He cursed himself again. Come to a damn decision, Malfoy, are you going to ignore her or are you going to know what happened to her... come to a damn decision!
He passed by a classroom, Arithmancy, on his way to Charms and caught a glimpse of Hermione. Finally, he came to a decision: he would know what happened. There was no turning back, no asking stupid questions on why he wanted to... he would simply use all of his power and all means to know what happened to her. And if she would let him, he would make things right for her. No matter what.
His reasons for doing this would be examined later. There was little time to do that now. He finally settled on doing it because he needed something to prove to himself that he had changed... for the better. Whether his reasons would escalate to something other than that need to prove himself, they would have to be for later.
But he couldn't shake off the fact that mere glimpses of Hermione looking like that made him want to change the whole world. Just for her.
Now why would he think that?
Getting a headache from all this thinking, he entered the Charms classroom and sat next to Goyle who was sleeping at the desk. Draco chuckled at the sight and woke his friend up. Goyle looked at him sleepily and stretched.
"Rise and shine, friend." Draco said lightly. "The class is about to begin."
Chapter 4: Glimpses
Hermione walked alone. For the first time in ages, she was walking alone towards the Great Hall for breakfast Monday morning. She usually got up first before any of the other prefects did but before the incident, Harry and Ron used to come and pick her up and they would walk together.
But now, she was avoiding them like the plague. Harry didn't know a thing that was for sure. And he was probably wondering why the last few weeks were spent with Hermione going with Lavender and Parvati. Hermione was even avoiding Ginny as well. After all, Ginny was Ron's sister.
How she wished she could've used the time turner and make it all right again... but she couldn't. Using the time turner meant going to Dumbledore and asking for permission to use it... and she couldn't just blurt out the reason why she wanted to use the time turner in the first place, now could she? That would mean telling Dumbledore about her... assault. And she didn't want to do that.
It was not that she was afraid of Ron and his threats... those were partly the reason for not telling anybody. She was afraid that people might look at her differently. If she did tell and it got around... then people might accuse her of deserving what happened to her. No one, not one single person in the world deserved what happened to her.
Sighing, she entered the Great Hall. A few students were scattered here and there, talking and eating. To her surprise, Lavender and Parvati were already there. Smiling, she walked towards them and sat next to Parvati.
"Hey Hermione!" Parvati greeted, giving her friend a quick hug. Hermione laughed at her friend's gesture. Lavender smiled at her as well.
"Hey guys! What brings you two in here this early?" Hermione asked, getting a few slices of toast and some fruit preserves.
"Oh nothing... we were getting tired of the Gryffindor room, especially with you not being there with us!" Lavender replied. Contrary to popular belief, they were pretty good friends during the last past years, even when Hermione was still with Harry and Ron.
Hermione laughed, "Thanks..."
"And besides... we get to see the cute quidditch guys coming from team practice." Parvati added. "Like the Slytherin team right there!" She said, pointing to the Slytherin table.
Both Hermione and Lavender turned to look and saw the whole Slytherin team in their quidditch uniforms wolfing down their breakfast. Hermione chuckled.
"You like anyone on the Slytherin team, Parvati?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought we still had those house rivalries?"
"Well, yes..." Parvati answered meekly.
"Well, house rivalries or no, I still think that the Slytherin team is the best-looking team of all." Lavender whispered.
"Lavender!" Hermione chided.
"I said best-looking, not the best team..." Lavender defended, stifling a giggle. "I know how loyal you are to Harry and Ron."
The mention of Ron's name brought chills down Hermione's spine. Muttering a soft "Yeah, I am..." she went back to her breakfast. Luckily, both Parvati and Lavender were now in a deep conversation about who was the cutest in the whole Slytherin quidditch team. Hermione chose to tune out their conversation.
Just then Harry and Ron bounded towards the Gryffindor table. Whatever was left of Hermione's poise was shattered when the two sat down next to her. Ron put an arm around Hermione and smiled a sunny smile at her. Inside, Hermione was trembling and wishing that she were in another place... anywhere, even in the Slytherin table. Just as long as she was far away from Ron as possible.
"Hey Hermione! How are you today?" Ron asked, ignoring her slight trembling and her frightened disposition. Harry smiled at her as well.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking, Ron." She said in a small voice, looking down at her plate and shrugging off his violating arm around her. Slowly, so as not to alarm, she scooted nearer to Parvati and kept her head down.
Ron's anger blazed inside of him. If anyone happened to notice her state when she was with him, they would ask questions... And so, keeping a cool front, he lent over to Hermione's side and whispered in her ear.
"Don't you ever act like that in front of me..." He whispered in a malicious tone.
"Act like what?" Hermione whispered back, her voice small and definitely frightened.
"Like you're scared of me."
But I am scared of you! Hermione wanted to scream out, but knew that she very well couldn't. Instead, she nodded her head and willed her nerves to relax. He was threatening her again, but she must not let it show that it really affected her. Taking a few deep breaths, she finally willed herself to look up. And she met the steely blue eyes of Draco Malfoy.
She wanted to cry right then and there. She couldn't take it anymore. First there was Ron who was forcing her to be friendly to him as if nothing had happened when something bad did. Then there was Harry who refused to think that something had happened. And finally there was Malfoy who was close to knowing what he shouldn't know. Bringing her gaze back down, she ate the rest of her food in silence.
Draco watched the whole exchange. He was watching her the second she stepped into the Great Hall. When she came in, she was relaxed and cheery, especially when she sat down next to her girl friends. She was smiling and she laughed as well. But when one of her friends said something, she immediately paled and closed up. When Weasley and Potter came in, it seemed that she broke... on the inside. Now, even from afar, he saw the trembling of her hands and the uptightness of her body.
What the hell brought that on? Both Potter and Weasley acted the way they always did... but it was Hermione who was unnerved. When Draco thought about it, he almost never ran into the three of them together. During class, he would either have only Hermione as a classmate in one subject, and Potter and Weasley in another. There was only one subject that they all had together: Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Draco stood up at once and walked briskly towards the entrance of the Great Hall. He only had half an hour to take a bath and change from his qudditch uniform to his school uniform. To his luck, Defense Against the Dark Arts was the first class today, meaning that he had a whole period to study Hermione Granger and what made her so... unlike her usual self. Something had happened... if he couldn't figure out what, he would have to ask her himself.
While walking towards the prefects' quarters, he thought about why he was so interested in Hermione Granger's affairs. Before, he couldn't care less about what was going on with her and would've jumped in joy that she was now like this... but that was before. Something in her made him want to know everything about her. He couldn't understand what it was exactly. Whatever it was, he would have to deal with that later... knowing what was wrong with Hermione was the first on his list.
* * *
Whatever he saw during breakfast in the Great Hall that morning, he saw more of during class.
Professor Lupin was reinstated to teach once again in Hogwarts since their fifth year, therefore dispelling the said curse about the Defense Against the Dark Arts. He was in better shape now and he was always kind and considerate, even towards the Slytherins.
"Good morning class." Professor Lupin greeted warmly as he did every day for the past weeks that they have been going to school. Half of the class responded warmly as well; as for the other half, they merely nodded their heads.
"I know that during the past year and for the past weeks as well, we have been going through the same routine in class." Professor Lupin continued. "Well now, I've devised a new way to get you students to cooperate and for me to teach better."
Brows furrowed and people looked at each other in confusion and slightly with fear. No one had a single clue about what the professor was saying. Lupin smiled at them, noticing the looks he was being given, especially by Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"I also know that Slytherin and Gryffindor haven't exactly been..." He trailed off, as if searching for the correct word. "Willing to forget their house differences." He finished with a smile.
Eyes rolled and some snorted. Of course, Professor, where are you going with all of this? They wanted to ask but couldn't.
"I do have a point, children." Professor Lupin assured, still smiling like mad. "And to prove my point, I have written down all the topics we will discuss up until the Christmas break. But, to make this two and a half months different, I will pair each and everyone with a member of the other house."
Before the groans, protests and violent reactions could be made, Professor Lupin quickly followed up his statement. "Each pair will do a research on the topic I will give. This does not only give you students a chance to actually study and rely on yourselves to get a grade in this subject; this will also promote better relationships between houses." He looked around and saw the sour faces of his class. "Well, you can give me all those looks and I would not change a thing. I have asked Headmaster Dumbledore's permission on this and he has agreed that it is a wonderful idea: to get at least some of the students in both houses to cooperate and work with each other."
Hermione's hand shot up in the air. Some people groaned and rolled their eyes at her eagerness, Draco included.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Professor Lupin asked.
"What will we do with the research?" Hermione asked. "And how will we be graded?"
Leave it to the Gryffindor know-it-all to ask about the research's actual usage and grade. Draco thought idly as he turned to the Professor. Draco was seated at the very back of the room. Despite his love for the subject, he refused to let his enthusiasm show. Only the professor knew of Draco's interest.
"Ah, very good that you have brought up those particular points, Miss Granger." Professor Lupin answered. "The research will be passed to me and we will discuss every topic briefly in class. To promote more friendship and goodwill, all of you must discuss what you have gathered amongst yourselves during this period. You will be graded on how extensive and veritable your research is. And you will also be graded on how you participate in these discussions."
After having said that, he turned to the other students. "Anymore questions?" He asked. When no one asked, he then turned to his desk and brought out a sheet of parchment from his drawer. The class definitely looked apprehensive as they waited for their name to be called.
All the pairs have been called out and asked to sit beside each other when Professor looked up from his list to see if all had a partner. He frowned when he saw that Hermione and Draco both had no partners in sight.
"Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy. Where are your respective partners?" He asked. The rest of the class to turned to the both of them. It was quite a sight, seeing as Hermione sat at the very front and Draco sat at the very back. Draco raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest, as if he didn't need to answer the question.
"Well sir, if I may speak on behalf of Mal-, I mean, of Draco..." Hermione started with some difficulty as she said Draco's name. She looked behind her and sure enough, Draco's indifference meant that he didn't give a damn if she explained why they both didn't have their partners; he didn't give a damn if she explained his existence on earth either. But that's beside the point.
Hermione continued, facing the professor who looked at her expectantly. "Well, sir. Paul Addison was supposed to be my partner but as you may know, since he transferred from Durmstang, he has been busy all these weeks doing extra credit work to catch up with the rest of us. Parvati Patil was supposed to be Mal-, I mean, Draco's partner, but she had to be excused from class today, as she is in the infirmary due to her sister, Padma having an accident a few minutes before class. I think her excuse letter is on your desk, sir."
"Well, Miss Granger. Thank you for that report." Professor answered lightly. "But, since the remaining minutes of this period call for you doing your outline of the research topics I still have to give out, then I suggest that you and Mister Malfoy pair up. As for Miss Patil and Mister Addison, I will call them later and give them their topic."
"But sir...!" Hermione started to protest. Draco hands clenched and rested on the table in front of him. Other than that, he did not make any noise or protest.
"I am sorry, Miss Granger. But I cannot let you two do nothing for the remainder of the period." The professor said.
"But sir, I can do the outline without Paul's help. I'm sure Malfoy, um... Draco, can do it as well." Hermione argued. She turned to Draco and he nodded his head. She looked back to the professor.
Professor Lupin was shaking his head. "I am sorry, but I cannot let Paul and Parvati have the grade in which they did not help at all. You will be paired up with Mister Malfoy."
Hermione, having no other thing to say, turned to Draco for help. Draco cleared his throat.
"Professor?" He called out. Professor Lupin turned to him and looked at him expectantly. "Grang- Hermione and I are both prefects, Sir. I think it would be unfair to the rest if we would happen to work together on this project."
Hermione's face brightened and she quickly turned to the Professor with a hopeful look. Draco gave a small smile when he saw her act and look like that. He almost forgot that she was looking and acting like that because she wanted to get out of being partnered with him. He quickly suppressed the smile into a scowl.
"Yes, I am well aware of that fact, Mister Malfoy. But I think that Defense Against the Dark Arts isn't really Miss Granger's forte." The professor remarked, smiling. Hermione's alabaster skin went crimson and she stared down at her hands. "And I believe that you are very proficient, Mister Malfoy. And so, I don't think there would be any more problems with fairness. Now, please pair up and I shall begin with the distribution of the research topics."
But Draco did not make a move towards Hermione. And she him. Hermione was still staring down at her hands, while Draco stayed in his slouched, I- don't-give-a-damn position.
"Mister Malfoy?" Professor Lupin looked at Draco expectantly. Groaning, Draco got his things and walked towards the very front of the class. The professor smiled and went back to his list of topics. Suddenly, Draco was whirled around when someone grabbed his arm. It was Ron.
"You ever hurt her, I'll kill you myself." Ron said venomously. He whispered it so that his seatmate, Slytherin Pansy Parkinson wouldn't hear it. Instead of being intimidated, Draco smirked.
"What are you talking about, Weasley?" Draco asked as he pulled his arm back and gave Ron a glare. Then he went towards Hermione and sat down on the empty chair next to her. He sat down with such a bang that Hermione jumped and let out a gasp. Draco looked at her in confusion.
"What's wrong with you, Granger? Feeling jumpy all the time or is it just with me?" Draco drawled. Hermione looked uncertainly from him to someone at the back. She shook her head and went back to staring at her hands.
Just at that moment, Professor Lupin gave them a small sheet of parchment which was folded up. Hermione looked up and took it, ignoring the look Draco was giving her.
Great! I'm stuck with the Gryffindor know-it-all who's probably not a know- it-all anymore since she's so bad in this subject. Draco thought sarcastically. But, at least I'll get to study her and why she's just so jumpy all the time.
Hermione was reading the small piece of parchment when she let out a small, frightened sound. This snapped Draco out of his thoughts and looked at her.
"What?" He asked. She didn't answer, except she merely handed him the parchment with shaking hands. Draco took the paper and read it.
Inside was written: 'Research on the Rapere Curse or the rape curse.'
Draco glanced at Hermione and saw that she was still shaking and breathing heavily. Something happened to her that affected her so bad that she shakes by just reading about this rape curse. Draco thought.
"Come on, Granger. Let's get started on this." Draco said, taking out some parchment and his quill. Hermione nodded and they started to work.
Well, Draco worked, Hermione only gave a few comments here and there about what they should outline on the Curse. They handed in their paper long before anyone else in the classroom and were left with doing nothing for the rest of the period. Hermione was trying to calm her nerves down, quite unsuccessfully. Draco chose to ignore her shakings, but he kept it to memory... something he would think about later.
Soon, class ended and all of them started to gather up their things. Hermione was the first one out the door, wanting to be away from everyone and not waiting for either Harry or Ron.
Get a grip, Malfoy! He scolded himself as he gathered up his books and headed out the door. What happened to her is none of your business! Haven't you learned that?!
But he usually contradicted himself these days, because deep inside, he wanted to make her his business, no matter what.
Fuck it! He cursed himself again. Come to a damn decision, Malfoy, are you going to ignore her or are you going to know what happened to her... come to a damn decision!
He passed by a classroom, Arithmancy, on his way to Charms and caught a glimpse of Hermione. Finally, he came to a decision: he would know what happened. There was no turning back, no asking stupid questions on why he wanted to... he would simply use all of his power and all means to know what happened to her. And if she would let him, he would make things right for her. No matter what.
His reasons for doing this would be examined later. There was little time to do that now. He finally settled on doing it because he needed something to prove to himself that he had changed... for the better. Whether his reasons would escalate to something other than that need to prove himself, they would have to be for later.
But he couldn't shake off the fact that mere glimpses of Hermione looking like that made him want to change the whole world. Just for her.
Now why would he think that?
Getting a headache from all this thinking, he entered the Charms classroom and sat next to Goyle who was sleeping at the desk. Draco chuckled at the sight and woke his friend up. Goyle looked at him sleepily and stretched.
"Rise and shine, friend." Draco said lightly. "The class is about to begin."
