Chapter Three
We walked down to the Great Hall together and for some reason I was in a rather foul mood after seeing the many glances Malfoy was receiving in the library while I was trying to study N.E.W.T, which I was beginning to feel uneasy about.
"Who put the broom up your…" He began but I cut him off with a look and said in clipped tone,
"Finish that sentence and I assure you you'll know where you can find that broom."
He turned to me with a genuine smile and asked,
"Alright then, what's bothering you?"
"What makes you think something's bothering me?"
He rolled his eyes dramatically and replied,
"I've been attached to you for almost a month now, you usually pick up on habits after being with someone that long."
I nodded my head grudgingly but didn't make any move to answer his question.
"You know that question was not a rhetorical one."
"Glad to know you can tell the difference."
"Ah, see something must be wrong for you added no real and intended insult to that one." He replied tauntingly.
"Dunderhead, better?" I finished off as he began to chuckle.
"So what's making you so tense?" He finally asked as we joined the swarming crowd getting inside the hall.
"I'm not tense!" I hissed causing him to just raise his eyebrows in a knowing way.
"You're worried about your upcoming N.E.W.T.'s aren't you?" He asked causing my jaw to go slack.
"How…How did you…?" I asked confused.
He just grinned and shook his head and replied,
"I told you, you just pick up on these things."
Rolling my eyes at his tone of superiority we were about to make our way to the Slytherin table when I noticed Pansy and her mates sitting there. I grabbed Malfoy by the elbow as he gave me a questioning look and nodded my head in the way that Pansy was sitting.
"Ah, Gryffindor table it is then." Malfoy said with a scowl on his face.
Ever since the episode of me turning her into toast, Pansy had been trying every conceivable way to get Malfoy's attention. We made our way over and sat in our regular seats and began to dish up our meals to eat. When we looked up everyone was staring at us with wide eyes and slacked jaws.
"What?" I asked innocently confused.
GRYFFINDOR'S P.O.V.
We watched as Malfoy and Hermione made their way over to their regular seats at our table and sat down, letting the weirdness begin. Malfoy handed Hermione a plate while she handed him his silverware. While Malfoy was piling mashed potatoes on his plate, Hermione was piling meat on hers. When they were done with those servings, they switched plates and loaded each other's plate up with the foods closest to them.
They then exchanged plates when they were done, took a look at their plate, and then at each other's. Malfoy scooped some of the gravy off of his mashed potatoes and placed it on Hermione's, while underneath his arms, Hermione was giving Malfoy her peas and taking half of his roll. Malfoy then grabbed some of Hermione's treacle tarts and Hermione took some of Malfoy's meat.
Easily to say, all of us were frozen in our actions and gaping at them as they nonchalantly carried out their actions. When they both looked up Hermione and Malfoy both seemed confused as she asked innocently,
"What?"
END GRYFFINDOR'S P.O.V.
I looked behind me to see if there was something there but it was just other student's backs. When I looked back they were still gaping, while Ron and Harry were glaring at Malfoy. I looked over at Malfoy who turned to look at me; we both shrugged our shoulders and dug into our food.
Halfway through the meal I turned and tapped Malfoy on the shoulder, who without stopping to eat, poured some Pumpkin Juice into a goblet and handed it to me while I graciously gulped it down.
I looked up and saw some of the people around us staring in slight confusion. Before it could get too far however Malfoy tapped me on the shoulder and passed me his plate. I looked down and loaded it up with more meat and rolls and handed it back to him. I didn't understand why people were giving us curious looks but decided not to waste my energy on it since I was tense as it already was.
"Do you feel like there's a boggart behind us somewhere?" I whispered to Malfoy as we received more stares.
He looked up and grinned at me and whispered back,
"Well turn around and see if you're book Hogwart's: A History is being torn apart." He sniggered.
I couldn't hold back the laugh that escaped as I gave him a good-natured hit on the arm.
I woke up in the middle of the night, but the coldness I felt told me Malfoy wasn't holding me. It was an awfully weird feeling I got then, feeling like I needed him to hold me. I'd been waking up with him and his arms around me that I wondered if I'd ever get used to him not being there. Almost as if on cue he turned around and wrapped his arms around me while I sighed happily and turned in his embrace and buried my head into his shoulder, easily falling asleep.
DRACO P.O.V.
When I woke up the next Saturday morning to the same full feeling in my arms, I couldn't help but smile. I admit I kicked myself every morning when I realized I had my arms around Granger, but I couldn't help feeling happy at the same time. She fit perfectly in my arms, pureblood or not, and it wasn't a sensation I felt with others. When I opened my eyes and looked down I was transfixed with the perfect sight. I had never seen anything so beautiful, and a surge of possessiveness washed over me.
She was curled up in my arms and had buried her head into my shoulder, trying to get as close to me as possible. In all the years at Hogwarts, this last month was the only month I've ever been able to really get some sleep. Without thinking I ran a hand down her cheek and marveled at the softness of it. She sighed and pushed herself closer into my side to my contentment. Wanting to keep this feeling with me for a little while longer, I lay there with her in my arms for a few more minutes until I gently pulled myself away and waited for her to wake up.
END DRACO P.O.V.
I smiled despite myself when I felt him unwrap his arms from me but was embarrassed that I had sighed when I felt him run his fingers down my cheek. I just couldn't help it; it felt so nice and normal.
After showering we both walked down to the breakfast and sat with the Slytherins at their table, not even mumbling a hello since we were both busy in our thoughts. I grumbled and placed my head on the table as a wave of sleepiness hit me.
"Here." Draco muttered and pulled my head up.
I looked over and saw him holding a muffin to me. I smiled and greedily snatched it, biting into it when I realized it was my favorite muffin.
"How'd you know?" I asked grinning as the Slytherins watched on intently.
"You eat the same thing every morning Granger." He replied in a dull tone.
I smiled and poured two drinks and handed him one while I bit into my muffin again.
"Morning Hermione." A cheery voice called from my right.
I turned as an added weight was next to me and saw the blue eyes of Blaise boring into mine.
"Oh, hullo Blaise." I replied smiling slightly.
"How are you doing this fine morning?" He asked reaching across and grabbing a roll that was placed in front of gaping Slytherins.
"Fine thanks, yourself?" I asked taking another bite into my muffin.
"Great." He said grinning while applying butter on his roll.
I turned and gave Draco a confused look but wasn't able to catch his eye, as he was too busy glaring at Blaise.
"So Draco, I'm rather curious as to how you'll be playing Quidditch this year." Blaise said not catching the silent communication.
I cringed when I saw his face harden with realization.
"I won't." He bit out with a clenched jaw.
"Pity, rather good seeker you are." Blaise commented lightly.
A seventh year sitting across from me reached across the table to grab an apple, and in the process his robe sleeves lifted up and I began choking on my drink as I saw the unmistakable mark of pure evil; the Dark Mark.
"Hermione are you alright?" Blaise asked patting me on the back.
I could tell all the color from my face had drained as my eyes remained fixed on the mark.
"Granger?" I could hear Malfoy ask distantly from my side.
Oh God, I was sitting at a table that had the capability to be filled with either now or soon to be Death Eaters. Should I tell Dumbledore? HOW? Harry and Ron…YES! Someone roughly shaking me startled me enough to whip out my wand and point it directly at the person's throat.
"What is your problem?" Malfoy asked as he pushed the wand out of the way easily.
I stood up suddenly; catching the attention of nearby Slytherins as they gave me annoyed and confused looks.
"I need…we need to leave." I stuttered.
Malfoy knitted his eyebrows together and slowly rose from the table as I quickly took off towards the Gryffindors.
"Hullo Hermione!" Ron and Harry cried out happily but their smiles faltered when they saw my distressed face.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked standing up while Harry followed his lead.
"I need to talk to you two." I said in a forceful tone.
"How are you going to do that with ferret attached to you?" Ron asked shooting Malfoy a glare.
I turned towards Malfoy and quickly turned back to Harry and talked to him with my eyes. It was a known fact to Ron and I that over the summer Harry had mastered the art of Occlumency. Lucky for me, it was almost as if he could read minds since he instantly pulled me towards him and muttered the word,
"Legilimency?" Into my ear.
I nodded my head instantly and he led the three of us out of the Great Hall and stopped me and began to peer into my eyes. I grabbed a deep breath as images of past began to flitter through my head and I didn't even realize as I fell to my knees. When I saw the image of me at breakfast I raised a week hand up and saw the images slow down slightly.
I watched the whole scene play out once more and in an instant it stopped.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Malfoy was yelling as Ron helped me up.
I looked over at Harry weakly who was clenching and unclenching his hands.
"What's going on?" Ron asked staring at me wide-eyed.
"I'll tell you later Ron, Hermione, let me take care of this, alright?" Harry asked softly.
I nodded my head and watched them walk away and heard a burst from Ron as they rounded the corner.
"He was using Occlumency on you wasn't he?" Malfoy asked suddenly.
I turned towards him with a surprised look on his face as he easily said,
"My father used to use it on me sometimes when I was younger."
I nodded my head slightly and backed up a few inches when his eyes narrowed.
"What did you see that made you have Potter do that?"
"Nothing." I said instantly in what I hoped was a strong voice.
It was clearly evident however that Malfoy was able to see through almost any act as he took a step forward.
"It only happened in the middle of breakfast after Blaise was talking to you. What did you see Granger?"
I shook my head and turned around only to be whirled back around once again.
"Answer me." He practically growled.
"No!"
He raised an inquisitive eyebrow and I forced myself to calm down as I replied in a calm voice,
"It was nothing of your concern Malfoy."
"Anything having do with Slytherins and Harry Potter being put together is my concern." He returned.
"It isn't that big of a deal." I retorted.
"You do know that Potter isn't the only one who knows how to use Occlumency right?" He asked in a dangerous tone.
I backed up slowly until I was backed into a wall while he placed a hand on either side of my head, instantly trapping me in.
"I'll scream." I threatened as I slowly slid my hand behind my back to make a grab for my wand.
"Really?" He asked in an uninterested tone.
I nodded my head and quickly withdrew my wand only to have it yanked away from me.
"I'll respect your privacy as you'll respect mine and the rest of the Slytherins, anything you see or hear while on our side remains there, do you understand?" He asked in a dangerous tone.
I nodded my head with a scowl on my face as he tossed the wand back into my hands.
The month slowly flittered by until it was a few days before Halloween and we were still cuffed together and we were lying in bed trying to get some sleep.
"I need to get out of this room." I heard Malfoy mutter.
Rolling my eyes I turned on my side, making sure the sheet was covering me up to my armpits, and turned towards him.
"Well then by all means, leave if you must." I retorted sarcastically.
"Alright." He said with a shrug of his shoulders and began to move out of the bed.
"Malfoy…" I said catching his attention and holding up our hands.
"Do you actions contain a hidden point?" He asked in a dry tone.
Rolling my eyes I moved onto my side once more and could hear him come around my side as my arm moved with his motions.
"I'm not leaving this room Malfoy so let the issue be. Just go to sleep." I said irritated.
"I really need to get outside Granger, and if you aren't willing to cooperate, I will make you." He responded.
Sighing I opened one lazy lid and clamped my hands down on the railings of the bed.
"One, Madame Pomfrey will hear you, Two, I am not leaving this bed."
"Madame Pomfrey retired to her quarters for tonight and yes you are." He responded quickly.
"You're such an insufferable git." I said yawning.
A moment later I felt myself being yanked off the bed, an arm wrapped underneath my legs, and another arm going over my head so his cuffed hand wouldn't stop him from picking me up.
"Malfoy let me go!" I shouted and stopped when I felt his hands on my bare skin.
"Silk Granger?" He asked in amused yet sultry voice causing me to blush.
He swiftly reached underneath the bed, pulled his broomstick out, and pushed open the window.
"Are you crazy?" I asked grabbing for anything solid as he moved towards the open window.
"Highly." He responded and used a spell to levitate the broom just outside the window.
Without waiting he jumped out the window as I clung to him and not even a second later did I feel us land and sweep away.
"I HATE YOU!" I screamed while clinging to him and burying my face into his chest.
With this position I could feel him chuckling and his muscles move when he moved the broom a certain way.
"Admit it, this is much better then staying cooped up in a measly room." He said to me.
I remained silent and let him continue on with his flight as I slowly began to remove my face from his chest and look into the night sky.
"Different at night isn't it?" He asked with pure amusement in his voice.
I nodded my head in a trance like state as I watched the sky move above us, it was completely relaxing and I wasn't even worried about flying anymore. The twinkling silver lights that lit a path up in the black night seemed to captivate both of our attentions as the illumination from the moon gave us a sense of childlike innocence.
"We should get back inside, school tomorrow." Malfoy said sometime later. I nodded my head and watched us sway through the sky back towards the open window.
With some difficulty, we both got back inside with his broom and made our way to the bed. My cheeks were still tingling and I could tell me hair was a complete wreck as I slid into the covers.
"Night Granger." He said sleepily from his side.
I smiled softly and replied,
"Good night Malfoy."