Hermione walked out it the hall, her robes billowing behind her like Draco's did, but as her mind made the connection to the way Draco walked to hers, she cut it off. She would not think about him! She strode down the hallway, quickening her pace. Her next class was History of Magic, with the Slytherins. Students piled into the hallways, and she zigzagged through them. Some people shot looks at her as she marched towards the classroom.
Finally, she got where she wanted to be and looked into a classroom. Harry and Ron were inside and the waved her in. She put up a finger to say 'One minute,' and pulled out of the classroom. As she heard the shrill voice of a snobby Slytherin girl, she ducked behind a suit of armor and waited.
Pansy Parkinson walked by, chatting and giggling loudly. Her friends were all gossiping and poking fun at anything they seemed fit.
Then Neville, Parvati, and Lavender walked by. And then they came. First the image of Crabbe loomed from the side of the suit of armor. And then Goyle came quickly after him. And almost hidden by the previous two, there was the smaller boy with platinum blond hair. He was saying something funny and Crabbe and Goyle were laughing stupidly. Hermione stepped out from behind the knight.
"Malfoy!" she called.
They turned, Malfoy the quickest and spotting her. His eyes narrowed as they so often did. "What do you want, Granger?"
So he was going to pretend like it didn't happen, again. "I need to talk to you. Dumbledore business," she added as Goyle made a stupid confused sound.
Malfoy looked from Hermione to his cronies and then said angrily, "Just go." He walked towards Hermione, sighing angrily. She was about to open a classroom to the side of her, when she heard voices. "What it, Granger," he teased. She snapped her fingers threateningly at him as she moved to another door, and this time it was free. She opened it and gestured him in. As he passed, "Don't be seem too eager, Granger. I'm not going to snog you this time."
"Shut up," she hissed as she shut the door. "Malfoy, I just needed to tell you that what little episode we may have had is over." He opened his mouth but she just raised the level of her voice. "I realize we'll work together a lot next year as Head Boy and Girl, but I've worked awfully hard for my badge and no Slytherin is going to take it away."
He smiled, and she wished she knew what he was thinking.
"So just to get all awkwardness out, I've made everything clear, alright?"
"Looks like you've thought of everything." He sneered, "Run away, again. Why don't you just kick me, too?" His laugh grew irrationally. "You're such a sad, pathetic excuse for a witch."
Hermione, who was already stressed to a breaking point with Malfoy, whipped out her wand. She pointed at him and yelled, "Stupify!"
But however, that's only what she thought she yelled. The words that reached her ears were, "Amare!"
A blue light tangled with red shot at Malfoy as he stepped back. But the spell hit him, full in the chest, and he was knocked to the ground, on his knees.
"Malfoy!" shrieked Hermione as she ran over to him, knelt, and tried to pull him up, but he sunk to the floor. "Oh…no." Hermione glanced around the room, looking for help. "Malfoy!" she screamed again, shaking him.
He stirred, his eyes had a little red glow in the edges. He blinked and looked up, and then at Hermione. "Hermione," he said, balancing as he sat up. "Hermione, I'm sorry."
"Oh, no. No, we need to get you to the hospital wing."
"I'm fine," he shook her apology off. He placed his hand on her arm, and she looked up at him, biting her lip nervously. "Hermione, I'm so sorry." His hands moved to her hips and he applied a little force to get her to lie down.
"NO! No!" He looked hurt and confused at her words as she threw him off. "I want you to remember when you're back to normal that I didn't mean to do this."
"Anything…wait, what?" he asked, not understanding.
"Malfoy, let me take you to the hospital wing."
"Why?" he asked, hurt. He leaned over to kiss her neck, but she jerked back and he looked at her, like waiting for her 'ok' signal.
"Malfoy! Come with me to the hospital wing!" Though he looked even more miffed, he agreed and she helped pull him up. 'Oh no,' she thought as she passed the History of Magic class. 'I'm missing another one.' But she didn't think Professor Binns would notice if she was gone, and she didn't feel like interrupting his class. So, leading Malfoy very awkwardly, she headed towards the hospital wing. She felt his eyes on her and blushed deeply. 'He'll kill me,' she kept thinking, dreading when the spell would wear off. Her heart filled with dread at the thought of what Madame Pomfrey would say…and then she remembered Love Charms were banned. Of course all hexes were banned, but this one was of significance. And mainly, to the gossip of the students. Her eyes filled with tears as she prepared to open the door to the infirmary.
Draco gently grabbed her arm and she looked at him, his face was caring and fretful. "I don't like to see you cry," he whispered.
"Then please," she said weakly. "Don't tell Madame Pomfrey about me."
He paused and then said, "Ok." He gave a very light kiss on the mouth, just a brush of lips, before opening the door and walking inside. It was so strange to know that all that devotion and compassion was just a spell.