CHAPTER TWO
One week had passed after that night. The two always saw each other lately, though not meaning to.
They had been in the same class in almost all the subjects but they hardly ever talked. Draco didn't bother to pester Hermione or call her "Mudblood," nor did he start any fights with Harry and Ron recently.
In Potions, Hermione couldn't avoid looking at Draco, and every time Draco would look or take a glimpse at her, she would turn away, knowing that he was staring at her. They were often left in the classroom alone because they had to fix the equipment they had used before going to their next class (Snape had assigned them to do this, thinking it would torture them both, since they couldn't stand being alone in the same room together). Everything was awkward for the both of them. Yet, neither of them tried resolving it.
As the days passed by, Hermione got used to the awkward feeling when Draco was around. She willed herself to believe that it was only caused by their differences and that it would pass away. But an incident one morning caused Hermione to think about him more.
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The day started with a bright, shining morning. Hermione woke up early, feeling better and eager to go to class. She went out of the Gryffindor dormitory and made for to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Good morning Hermione!" Harry and Ron greeted her.
"Good morning guys!" She greeted them back, smiling and sitting down to eat. It was when she was halfway done when she remembered that she was supposed to bring her potions assignment, which was a 32-inch essay about different potions that could cure different hexes. "Oh no!" she gasped.
Ron turned to her. "What's wrong Hermione?"
"I forgot my homework at the dormitory!" She stood up and headed for the door with out even letting Ron answer her back.
After grabbing her homework rather carelessly, she went immediately out of the Gryffindor dormitory and hurried to their Potions class. She thought it would be better if she would get there earlier so as to have time for a little more note-browsing. Perhaps Harry and Ron would already be there waiting.
She went down to the dungeons. As she was about to go in the classroom, she came across Draco. Unbelievably enough, he was not with his two faithful cronies Crabbe and Goyle. She stopped and so did Draco. She tried to avoid his gaze but then she felt something was pulling her eyes into his and.
Their eyes met for the first time.
This sent a jolt of electricity to them both and everything seemed to freeze for a moment. Neither of them moved or uttered a word. They didn't realize that they had locked eyes for almost five minutes until they heard footsteps coming their way. They didn't really pay attention to it at first. They were too engrossed, looking at each other's eyes, feeling like they were in a different world. But Draco suddenly snapped out of what seemed to be a trance at the sight of Harry and Ron walking towards Hermione. Hermione sensed their presence and immediately turned to them. Draco still did not move from where he was standing as he watched Harry and Ron approach her and waited until they finished talking.
"Where were you?" Harry asked.
"I went to get my essay and headed directly here thinking that the two of you might already be here."
She answered them quickly. Draco could see the smile and relief on her face upon seeing her two best friends.
He saw Ron place his arms on her shoulders and escort her inside the classroom. At that sight, Draco felt a sudden lurch in his stomach and a very uneasy feeling. He knew that it was only a friendly gesture from Ron because he already had a girlfriend, but something still bothered him.
"What is this?" He thought. "Why am I feeling like this? I couldn't be jealous of that weasel. could I?"
He was quite puzzled by what was happening. He couldn't seem to understand why his stomach turned at the sight of her friends putting their arms around her.
"That Potty and Weasel? I should know better than to be affected by those two bloody losers!" Draco said firmly to himself, glaring at the Trio. He took his eyes away from them at the sound of Crabbe's voice.
"Hey Malfoy! Where were you? We didn't see you at breakfast." Goyle trotted up alongside Crabbe.
"I was not in the mood to eat breakfast. Besides, I had to finish my homework early this morning. I forgot it was due today." Draco glared back at them. He motioned for them to come and they went inside the Potions classroom together.
Hermione sat still in their classroom. Snape had been telling them about the new potion they were going to make, but Hermione didn't have the inclination to listen to what he was saying. She just sat there thinking of what had happened.
Why did I feel that way towards Malfoy? What did it mean? She asked herself quietly.
She had been drowning in her thoughts until the angry voice of Snape broke into her trance. "Miss Granger!"
Hermione's head snapped up and she blushed. "Huh? What is it professor?"
Snape glared at her and answered, "You seemed to be very distracted. You didn't even hear my question!"
Hermione bowed her head in humiliation "I'm sorry professor."
"You should be," Snape said in a very deep voice. "You don't want me to deduct twenty points from Gryffindor and give you a detention for your inattentiveness?! Now listen!"
After Snape was finished with his discussion, it was time for them to do their potions. Unfortunately, Hermione's table was directly opposite Draco's. She did not bother to look at him but she sensed a pair of eyes looking at her from his direction. At that, she became slightly conscious of her moves. She was a bit curious why Draco was staring at her.
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Draco saw Hermione on the other side of the table. He looked at her closely and realized that she was really pretty. He noticed her beautiful long brown curls, how it flowed softly on her shoulders. Her cinnamon eyes, how they seemed to glitter every time she smiled. Her beautiful white skin looked so soft and he wondered how it would feel if he could touch it. And her lips, those red, kissab-. Wait! He thought.
'What am I thinking? This is Hermione Granger for Merlin's sake! A know-it- all Mudblood! I cannot believe I was thinking of that girl!'
Draco shook his head briskly and rubbed his eyes. He banged his hand to his temple, trying to shake out the thought on his head. He tried to concentrate more on his potion and tried his best not to think about her. Good thing, he managed to finish potions class without any more distractions.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was now early spring and everyone was getting excited about the upcoming dance. It was two weeks away and everyone was preparing for it. They had been so busy that they hardly ever opened a book to study for their exams.
However, on the other hand Hermione was doing the opposite. She did not prepare anything for the dance. Instead, she stayed in the library and kept herself busy by burying her nose in her books and reading her notes. Since her friends had been getting ready for the dance, she always studied alone. It wasn't a bad idea because somehow, being alone let her have a time of peace for herself. She needed it anyway to take her mind off the dance and off Draco. She just wanted to relax and read her books on her own
One particular day when she entered the library, she noticed that not one student was there and she was alone. Strangely enough, it gave her a sense of relief. "At least it will be quieter and I'll be able to study better." She sighed to herself.
She sat down at her usual table, at the left side corner of the library, opened her book and started to read. She was almost into what she was reading when she heard someone come in. It was Malfoy.
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He went in the library to review for the exams since Crabbe and Goyle were busy preparing for the dance. He was almost happy to see no one was in there, when his sight landed on Hermione on the left side corner of the library.
"Well, well, well, Granger is here." He drawled as he went up to the table and sat right in front of her, making her jump.
"Malfoy! What are you doing here?" She whispered.
"Well, what do you think people do in the library? Eat slugs?" He answered. "I study too you know!"
She stared at him for a few moments and resolutely sat back down and buried her nose in her books once more. She was so into what she was reading that she did not notice Draco staring at her.
"Damn! What is it about her?" He asked himself quietly.
He looked at her closely. Hermione noticed and looked up to him with her eyebrows raised. "What are you staring at?"
Draco flushed and sat up abruptly in his seat.
"N-Nothing," he muttered, unable to look at her directly. He bent his head down and started reading his book.
Hermione looked at him and watched as he read. She noticed he was devastatingly handsome when he was serious. And then suddenly, she smelled his spicy cologne. She stared at his face and wondered how soft it would be to touch. And his hair, that silvery blond hair, his lips, those luscious red lips she wondered how his lips would taste like and how his kisses would feel, his. Wha. wait!
"What was I thinking?'" she jumped off her seat at the thought and accidentally threw her book at Malfoy's face in horror and surprise.
"Bloody Hell! What is wrong with you?" He said in a loud voice, almost in a shout.
Hermione's face turned red and answered, "S-Sorry".
"What was that about?" He asked her again, this time more softly.
Hermione glared at him, not letting him notice the embarrassment in her face and shouted. "It's none of your business!" Hermione stood and ran out door before Draco could say another word.
"What is wrong with her?" He muttered to himself, shook his head and went on with what he was reading.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was lunch, but Hermione was not in the mood to eat. She did not like what she was feeling.
"This is not good!'" She said to herself as she climbed up the stairs towards the Gryffindor tower. "I'm not supposed to be thinking about him! It's not right! Maybe I'm sick! Maybe there's something wrong with me!"
Her mind was puzzled and filled with questions. She couldn't believe herself. She was thinking of him. Draco Malfoy, the arrogant, snobbish git she had always despised. She sat down in the couch near the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. She opened her book and tried to study, despite of what had been troubling her. She read and read, but nothing seemed to stick in her head. Only Malfoy. Only his face, his silver blond hair and his red lips. Only him. She did not understand why she couldn't get Draco out of her head. At last, she decided to go down to the Great Hall even if she wasn't feeling the least bit hungry. It was better to be in there with her friends than to be here alone thinking of Malfoy, she reasoned, as she left the tower in a hurry.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Malfoy saw his friends Crabbe and Goyle in the Great Hall at lunch. They saved him a seat and they talked to him about the upcoming dance. He tried to listen to Goyle, blabbing about what he was going to wear but his voice slowly faded away and the thought of Hermione filled his mind. He looked at the other side of the room and saw her. He noticed her again.
He noticed her cinnamon eyes, her soft rosy white skin, and her beautiful face that shone at the lights of the hall. She sat there talking with her two best friends. He watched her as her eyes glittered when she smiled. She was so pretty.
"She's so beautiful." he whispered.
At that Crabbe and Goyle stopped and their eyes widened. They traced the direction where Draco was looking and saw that he was gawking upon the Gryffindor table. They both looked at him anxiously. "What did you say?!"
Draco started and answered nervously. "Wha...What?"
Goyle eyed him curiously. "You just said the 'She's so beautiful!' Who's beautiful?" he asked him.
"Yeah! I never thought you'd have the taste for beauty and stuff!" Crabbe added, yanking a large piece of bread from the serving plate and stuffing it in his mouth.
Draco's face turned crimson and his hands began to sweat. He nervously smoothed back his hair. "Wha-what are you saying? I-I didn't say anything! You both should let yourselves be checked in the hospital wing, your ears are defective!" He stood and left the Hall with out even hearing Crabbe and Goyle's answer and went straight to the Potions classroom where the next class would take place. No one was there yet. He tried to relax but his face was still hot from humiliation.
He sat down in his table and sighed. "Whew! That was close! Too close! What have you been thinking Draco? What is wrong with you?" He whispered to himself while hammering a book to his head.
"This is not happening! No! I have to stop this!" He continued in frenzy while still banging the book on his head. He stopped and slowly turned around when he suddenly sensed someone in the room.
His jaw dropped and his face turned crimson when he realized it was Hermione.
To be continued.
One week had passed after that night. The two always saw each other lately, though not meaning to.
They had been in the same class in almost all the subjects but they hardly ever talked. Draco didn't bother to pester Hermione or call her "Mudblood," nor did he start any fights with Harry and Ron recently.
In Potions, Hermione couldn't avoid looking at Draco, and every time Draco would look or take a glimpse at her, she would turn away, knowing that he was staring at her. They were often left in the classroom alone because they had to fix the equipment they had used before going to their next class (Snape had assigned them to do this, thinking it would torture them both, since they couldn't stand being alone in the same room together). Everything was awkward for the both of them. Yet, neither of them tried resolving it.
As the days passed by, Hermione got used to the awkward feeling when Draco was around. She willed herself to believe that it was only caused by their differences and that it would pass away. But an incident one morning caused Hermione to think about him more.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The day started with a bright, shining morning. Hermione woke up early, feeling better and eager to go to class. She went out of the Gryffindor dormitory and made for to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Good morning Hermione!" Harry and Ron greeted her.
"Good morning guys!" She greeted them back, smiling and sitting down to eat. It was when she was halfway done when she remembered that she was supposed to bring her potions assignment, which was a 32-inch essay about different potions that could cure different hexes. "Oh no!" she gasped.
Ron turned to her. "What's wrong Hermione?"
"I forgot my homework at the dormitory!" She stood up and headed for the door with out even letting Ron answer her back.
After grabbing her homework rather carelessly, she went immediately out of the Gryffindor dormitory and hurried to their Potions class. She thought it would be better if she would get there earlier so as to have time for a little more note-browsing. Perhaps Harry and Ron would already be there waiting.
She went down to the dungeons. As she was about to go in the classroom, she came across Draco. Unbelievably enough, he was not with his two faithful cronies Crabbe and Goyle. She stopped and so did Draco. She tried to avoid his gaze but then she felt something was pulling her eyes into his and.
Their eyes met for the first time.
This sent a jolt of electricity to them both and everything seemed to freeze for a moment. Neither of them moved or uttered a word. They didn't realize that they had locked eyes for almost five minutes until they heard footsteps coming their way. They didn't really pay attention to it at first. They were too engrossed, looking at each other's eyes, feeling like they were in a different world. But Draco suddenly snapped out of what seemed to be a trance at the sight of Harry and Ron walking towards Hermione. Hermione sensed their presence and immediately turned to them. Draco still did not move from where he was standing as he watched Harry and Ron approach her and waited until they finished talking.
"Where were you?" Harry asked.
"I went to get my essay and headed directly here thinking that the two of you might already be here."
She answered them quickly. Draco could see the smile and relief on her face upon seeing her two best friends.
He saw Ron place his arms on her shoulders and escort her inside the classroom. At that sight, Draco felt a sudden lurch in his stomach and a very uneasy feeling. He knew that it was only a friendly gesture from Ron because he already had a girlfriend, but something still bothered him.
"What is this?" He thought. "Why am I feeling like this? I couldn't be jealous of that weasel. could I?"
He was quite puzzled by what was happening. He couldn't seem to understand why his stomach turned at the sight of her friends putting their arms around her.
"That Potty and Weasel? I should know better than to be affected by those two bloody losers!" Draco said firmly to himself, glaring at the Trio. He took his eyes away from them at the sound of Crabbe's voice.
"Hey Malfoy! Where were you? We didn't see you at breakfast." Goyle trotted up alongside Crabbe.
"I was not in the mood to eat breakfast. Besides, I had to finish my homework early this morning. I forgot it was due today." Draco glared back at them. He motioned for them to come and they went inside the Potions classroom together.
Hermione sat still in their classroom. Snape had been telling them about the new potion they were going to make, but Hermione didn't have the inclination to listen to what he was saying. She just sat there thinking of what had happened.
Why did I feel that way towards Malfoy? What did it mean? She asked herself quietly.
She had been drowning in her thoughts until the angry voice of Snape broke into her trance. "Miss Granger!"
Hermione's head snapped up and she blushed. "Huh? What is it professor?"
Snape glared at her and answered, "You seemed to be very distracted. You didn't even hear my question!"
Hermione bowed her head in humiliation "I'm sorry professor."
"You should be," Snape said in a very deep voice. "You don't want me to deduct twenty points from Gryffindor and give you a detention for your inattentiveness?! Now listen!"
After Snape was finished with his discussion, it was time for them to do their potions. Unfortunately, Hermione's table was directly opposite Draco's. She did not bother to look at him but she sensed a pair of eyes looking at her from his direction. At that, she became slightly conscious of her moves. She was a bit curious why Draco was staring at her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Draco saw Hermione on the other side of the table. He looked at her closely and realized that she was really pretty. He noticed her beautiful long brown curls, how it flowed softly on her shoulders. Her cinnamon eyes, how they seemed to glitter every time she smiled. Her beautiful white skin looked so soft and he wondered how it would feel if he could touch it. And her lips, those red, kissab-. Wait! He thought.
'What am I thinking? This is Hermione Granger for Merlin's sake! A know-it- all Mudblood! I cannot believe I was thinking of that girl!'
Draco shook his head briskly and rubbed his eyes. He banged his hand to his temple, trying to shake out the thought on his head. He tried to concentrate more on his potion and tried his best not to think about her. Good thing, he managed to finish potions class without any more distractions.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was now early spring and everyone was getting excited about the upcoming dance. It was two weeks away and everyone was preparing for it. They had been so busy that they hardly ever opened a book to study for their exams.
However, on the other hand Hermione was doing the opposite. She did not prepare anything for the dance. Instead, she stayed in the library and kept herself busy by burying her nose in her books and reading her notes. Since her friends had been getting ready for the dance, she always studied alone. It wasn't a bad idea because somehow, being alone let her have a time of peace for herself. She needed it anyway to take her mind off the dance and off Draco. She just wanted to relax and read her books on her own
One particular day when she entered the library, she noticed that not one student was there and she was alone. Strangely enough, it gave her a sense of relief. "At least it will be quieter and I'll be able to study better." She sighed to herself.
She sat down at her usual table, at the left side corner of the library, opened her book and started to read. She was almost into what she was reading when she heard someone come in. It was Malfoy.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
He went in the library to review for the exams since Crabbe and Goyle were busy preparing for the dance. He was almost happy to see no one was in there, when his sight landed on Hermione on the left side corner of the library.
"Well, well, well, Granger is here." He drawled as he went up to the table and sat right in front of her, making her jump.
"Malfoy! What are you doing here?" She whispered.
"Well, what do you think people do in the library? Eat slugs?" He answered. "I study too you know!"
She stared at him for a few moments and resolutely sat back down and buried her nose in her books once more. She was so into what she was reading that she did not notice Draco staring at her.
"Damn! What is it about her?" He asked himself quietly.
He looked at her closely. Hermione noticed and looked up to him with her eyebrows raised. "What are you staring at?"
Draco flushed and sat up abruptly in his seat.
"N-Nothing," he muttered, unable to look at her directly. He bent his head down and started reading his book.
Hermione looked at him and watched as he read. She noticed he was devastatingly handsome when he was serious. And then suddenly, she smelled his spicy cologne. She stared at his face and wondered how soft it would be to touch. And his hair, that silvery blond hair, his lips, those luscious red lips she wondered how his lips would taste like and how his kisses would feel, his. Wha. wait!
"What was I thinking?'" she jumped off her seat at the thought and accidentally threw her book at Malfoy's face in horror and surprise.
"Bloody Hell! What is wrong with you?" He said in a loud voice, almost in a shout.
Hermione's face turned red and answered, "S-Sorry".
"What was that about?" He asked her again, this time more softly.
Hermione glared at him, not letting him notice the embarrassment in her face and shouted. "It's none of your business!" Hermione stood and ran out door before Draco could say another word.
"What is wrong with her?" He muttered to himself, shook his head and went on with what he was reading.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was lunch, but Hermione was not in the mood to eat. She did not like what she was feeling.
"This is not good!'" She said to herself as she climbed up the stairs towards the Gryffindor tower. "I'm not supposed to be thinking about him! It's not right! Maybe I'm sick! Maybe there's something wrong with me!"
Her mind was puzzled and filled with questions. She couldn't believe herself. She was thinking of him. Draco Malfoy, the arrogant, snobbish git she had always despised. She sat down in the couch near the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. She opened her book and tried to study, despite of what had been troubling her. She read and read, but nothing seemed to stick in her head. Only Malfoy. Only his face, his silver blond hair and his red lips. Only him. She did not understand why she couldn't get Draco out of her head. At last, she decided to go down to the Great Hall even if she wasn't feeling the least bit hungry. It was better to be in there with her friends than to be here alone thinking of Malfoy, she reasoned, as she left the tower in a hurry.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Malfoy saw his friends Crabbe and Goyle in the Great Hall at lunch. They saved him a seat and they talked to him about the upcoming dance. He tried to listen to Goyle, blabbing about what he was going to wear but his voice slowly faded away and the thought of Hermione filled his mind. He looked at the other side of the room and saw her. He noticed her again.
He noticed her cinnamon eyes, her soft rosy white skin, and her beautiful face that shone at the lights of the hall. She sat there talking with her two best friends. He watched her as her eyes glittered when she smiled. She was so pretty.
"She's so beautiful." he whispered.
At that Crabbe and Goyle stopped and their eyes widened. They traced the direction where Draco was looking and saw that he was gawking upon the Gryffindor table. They both looked at him anxiously. "What did you say?!"
Draco started and answered nervously. "Wha...What?"
Goyle eyed him curiously. "You just said the 'She's so beautiful!' Who's beautiful?" he asked him.
"Yeah! I never thought you'd have the taste for beauty and stuff!" Crabbe added, yanking a large piece of bread from the serving plate and stuffing it in his mouth.
Draco's face turned crimson and his hands began to sweat. He nervously smoothed back his hair. "Wha-what are you saying? I-I didn't say anything! You both should let yourselves be checked in the hospital wing, your ears are defective!" He stood and left the Hall with out even hearing Crabbe and Goyle's answer and went straight to the Potions classroom where the next class would take place. No one was there yet. He tried to relax but his face was still hot from humiliation.
He sat down in his table and sighed. "Whew! That was close! Too close! What have you been thinking Draco? What is wrong with you?" He whispered to himself while hammering a book to his head.
"This is not happening! No! I have to stop this!" He continued in frenzy while still banging the book on his head. He stopped and slowly turned around when he suddenly sensed someone in the room.
His jaw dropped and his face turned crimson when he realized it was Hermione.
To be continued.