Hermione woke up late in that bright Saturday morning, and she felt good.
The week had been good, the classes had been good, and she had almost no
contact with Malfoy, which was good. The common room was very turbulent
already, which was also good. No dating stuff that day. The main subject
was the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin and rivalry was
blessedly back, even if only for a while. It was Harry Potter's last year
at Hogwarts and they had to win the Cup.
The Gryffindors moved as one towards the pitch, and she felt safe and at home. Harry and Ron walked by her, chatting animatedly about the past games and their expectations for the current.
When they reached the field, she wished the boys good luck and moved to Gryffindor's stands, where she sat, holding a small red flag that Harry gave her. She saw professor McGonagall there, next to Seamus, who now commented the games. Ginny and Luna arrived some minutes after her. She frowned. Hadn't Ginny been with the rest of the Gryffindors?
"Ginny, you're almost late, the game is about to start," Hermione informed her.
"I was with Blaise," Ginny answered.
Hermione stared. Of course.
"Hey, I'm no turncoat, okay? I just wished Blaise good luck. He knows I'm still a Gryffindor, and--" she cut herself short, suddenly raising in her seat and standing on her toes, as if to see something better. "Oooh, isn't he just gorgeous dressed like that?"
Hermione followed her gaze and saw the Slytherin team, in the pitch. She noticed that Blaise was among them.
"I must admit I have a thing for Quidditch uniforms," Ginny sighed.
"They do have advantages," Luna conceded. "But I prefer Gryffindor uniforms," she smiled and looked at Ron, who gave her a smile back. "Especially the way they're buttoned."
Hermione stared at Luna:
"What do you mean?"
"It's just perfect for a strip-tease," Luna pointed out. "If you pull it just the right way, the entire thing comes off."
"Nah, I like it green... it suits him," Ginny added with a small grin. "Besides, the Slytherins' also have this feature. Believe me, it's quite handy."
Hermione looked at Ginny like she had grown an extra head. She then looked towards the pitch, and admitted that she never stopped to consider the Slytherin's uniform, or any uniform, for that matter. She stared at the green crowd down there, and a fair hair caught her attention. She felt compelled to observe the uniform, and the shape inside it, and found it rather appealing. "Yeah, it suits him," she agreed aloud. She found herself imagining how it would feel to "pull that green uniform just the right way" from a certain blonde, and banished the image from her head, mortified with herself. 'What am I thinking? Oooh... Damn you, Malfoy. This is all your fault.'
It was a hard game, as usual. Slytherin versus Gryffindor was a classic match and the entire school liked to watch it. It was also hard to take her eyes from... him. What was wrong with her after all? When had she started to pay attention in such things? And why did he had to become so handsome? She could see why Parvati and Lavender considered him so alluring. He was taller now, and the Quidditch training had given him quite a development. 'From an anatomic point of view, of course,' she pointed out to herself. So what if he was handsome? That wouldn't change the fact that he was a slimy arrogant bastard. With a nice butt. 'Ooh, stop it.' She tried to look elsewhere, but suddenly, both, him and Harry, ran in the same direction, and the crowd went wild while looking for the Snitch.
A load roar started when Harry dodged Malfoy's broom and caught the Snitch, the whole red and gold crowd ran to the field to congratulate the team and celebrate it. Hermione, of course, was among the first to get there. Luna and Pansy, however, got there first, and she reluctantly waited while the crowd around them dispersed to give Ron and Harry a congratulations hug. She followed them towards the changing rooms, trying to strike a conversation. When they entered the rooms, she decided to go back to the Gryffindor Tower, where the celebration would take place.
She had just entered the Great Hall, however, when she noticed that her Head Girl badge had fallen from her lapel. Deciding it would be dangerous to 'accio' it from where she was, she traced back her steps, staring carefully to the ground. It wasn't hard to find it. She saw it glinting in the sun light near the changing rooms' entrance. When she bent over to pick it up, the door opened. She raised her head slowly to meet a pair of grey eyes staring intently at her. Malfoy. Shirtless, wet and wearing only a towel. 'Ohmygod.'
"I--I've lost my badge." Why was she explaining herself?
He smirked and passed his hand through his still wet hair.
"Is that so?"
'He seems too full of himself for someone who just lost a game. What is he smirking at, anyway?' She thought, and scowled a bit. Her eyes strayed over his wet body, and she blushed. She tried to look elsewhere.
He leaned against a nearby wall, smirk still in his face.
"What are you smiling at? One wouldn't think you just lost a--"
"You were watching me," it wasn't a question.
"I was... what?!" She tried to control her voice. And her blushing cheeks. If her fate was to die by a quick and fatal heart attack, that would be the perfect time. She didn't, however.
"You were watching me. Looking at me. Ogling me," he put it, still smirking. She stared at him, mouth gaping open. "How do you want me to put it, Granger? Analyzing my perfect physical form to please your senses? Committing my body to memory for further use?"
"Please spare me of your arrogance, Malfoy. I have no patience for it," she tried to leave while hiding her blush, but he suddenly was upon her, blocking her way with his arm.
"I don't blame you. There is a lot to be seen. Quidditch is such an interesting sport, isn't it?" He smiled. "And you know about those uniforms."
She looked at him wondering if he really expected an answer and cursing Luna and Ginny for letting her in that little piece of information. 'Ignorance is bliss, sometimes. And I can't believe I just thought this.'
"But I never saw you fly much," he said, moving the conversation to her. She felt uncomfortable about being the subject. Or was it his closeness to her?
"I don't like it that much. Besides, I wouldn't have the diligence to practice so much, it would take my studying time." She was quite proud of herself for her steady voice.
"It is common knowledge in the entire school that you study way too much. You should try... other activities. It could be a good relief to your mind."
The way he said 'other activities' was quite suggesting. She looked suspiciously at him.
"That's why I like it. A like to practice a lot, until I'm tired. It's a relief to both body and mind, you see" he added, way too close to her. She could smell his soap, and his closeness caused a shiver to pass through her spine. She blushed. Again. What was he talking about?
"W-wh... I mean, w--" she stuttered.
"Quidditch, I meant. What were you thinking of?" his grey eyes showed amusement.
"I wasn't thinking of anything else," she lied, hating the way he was affecting her.
"Of course not," he smirked.
"Well, so that's quite a small mind you have there. I can think of a thousand other activities, if you don't like Quidditch." At this point she remembered the subject of the conversation. A relief... She felt his hand brush her thigh lightly and quickly. It felt like being electrocuted. Her muscles seemed to turn into jelly for a moment, and she almost gasped. She stared at him with wide eyes. He looked as if nothing happened, the bastard.
"I don't like physical activities much," she added breathlessly. That didn't sound like she meant to. Damn him.
"I daresay that's exactly what you need," he smirked, and raised the hand that brushed her leg to run his fingers through his hair. Was he mocking her?
"I mean, 'mente sana corpori sano' says the ancient wisdom. Isn't it? You should pay attention to both," he added.
"Perhaps," she agreed reluctantly. 'What is it, am I flirting with him? Oh Merlin, I lost it.'
"You just got to find the right activity for you. Then, you'll naturally practice it. Practice it a lot," he continued. He said the words slowly, as if savoring each, his eyes locked on hers. "It happens when you enjoy what you do."
"Uh-huh," she agreed quickly, trying not to look at him.
"After all, practice brings perfection, and you seem to be quite a perfectionist person, Granger," he concluded. She wondered if his malicious grin was stuck in his face forever. 'He can't be serious. Right? I mean, what does he want? What is he doing anyway? What does he mean? Arrrrgh.'
"Why are you giving me so much advice about my personal life, Malfoy? Since when you started to care?" She asked, irritated. She was decided to change this subject and forget all these stupid feelings.
"There's no need to be aggressive, Granger. I was just trying to start a friendly and mature conversation and contribute to the development of our interhouse relationship, as our dear Headmaster so eagerly requested." He sneered. "I thought you'd be the first to give the example, since the whole school seems to be engaged in this... cause," he spat the last phrase in a sour tone, denouncing a bit of displease toward his housemates' behavior.
"I-I'm sorry," she said, a bit ashamed. She was Head Girl, she should, indeed, give the example. It was just a friendly conversation. If Malfoy could do that, she certainly could too. 'That's it. So it was just a conversation,' she paused. 'I think.'
"Anyway, if you decide anything about your 'other activities', make sure you find a good teacher, Granger" he smirked suggestively, and turned away. "That's a great step towards liking it. The person has to be really good at what he teaches," he mocked some steps ahead, leaving her alone.
She absently adjusted her badge in her lapel, still staring at his retreating back. Feeling foolish, angry and frustrated, she left to the Gryffindor Tower, stomping all the way.
That was not fair! How could he play that way with her? He was trying to make her embarrassed and confused, and worse, pretending he was doing nothing! 'Damn Malfoy! And what about that towel? He probably thinks he owns the school, the git! How could he just walk around like that and go around imposing on girls, that -- that pervert!'
She entered the Gryffindor Common Room. The party was raging on undisturbed, with loud music and loud conversation. After a few moments, she noted that Harry and Ron weren't there. How typical. Someone tried to strike a conversation, maybe Ginny, but she just walked past the person and climbed the stairs, glaring at anyone who stood in the way. Lying in her bed, she chose a book and opened it.
Half an hour later, she was still trying to read her Arithmancy book before her with no success. As much as she tried to read the lines, again and again, her thoughts strayed to something completely different. His eyes, his voice, his words. His hand on his hair. His hand brushing her thigh. His perfect body, wet, so close to hers... 'Arghhh, this can't go on! Am I going crazy or what?! It's just bloody Malfoy, for Merlin's sake!' There was no way she would actually spend any amount of time thinking about him. Or any amount of time around him. 'Yes, that's it. No more thinking of Malfoy. I'll just keep my distance from that git. Maybe then I'll come back to my senses. I'll start by waking up earlier tomorrow..."
But her dreams that night wouldn't let her stand firmly in her commitment...
***
The Gryffindors moved as one towards the pitch, and she felt safe and at home. Harry and Ron walked by her, chatting animatedly about the past games and their expectations for the current.
When they reached the field, she wished the boys good luck and moved to Gryffindor's stands, where she sat, holding a small red flag that Harry gave her. She saw professor McGonagall there, next to Seamus, who now commented the games. Ginny and Luna arrived some minutes after her. She frowned. Hadn't Ginny been with the rest of the Gryffindors?
"Ginny, you're almost late, the game is about to start," Hermione informed her.
"I was with Blaise," Ginny answered.
Hermione stared. Of course.
"Hey, I'm no turncoat, okay? I just wished Blaise good luck. He knows I'm still a Gryffindor, and--" she cut herself short, suddenly raising in her seat and standing on her toes, as if to see something better. "Oooh, isn't he just gorgeous dressed like that?"
Hermione followed her gaze and saw the Slytherin team, in the pitch. She noticed that Blaise was among them.
"I must admit I have a thing for Quidditch uniforms," Ginny sighed.
"They do have advantages," Luna conceded. "But I prefer Gryffindor uniforms," she smiled and looked at Ron, who gave her a smile back. "Especially the way they're buttoned."
Hermione stared at Luna:
"What do you mean?"
"It's just perfect for a strip-tease," Luna pointed out. "If you pull it just the right way, the entire thing comes off."
"Nah, I like it green... it suits him," Ginny added with a small grin. "Besides, the Slytherins' also have this feature. Believe me, it's quite handy."
Hermione looked at Ginny like she had grown an extra head. She then looked towards the pitch, and admitted that she never stopped to consider the Slytherin's uniform, or any uniform, for that matter. She stared at the green crowd down there, and a fair hair caught her attention. She felt compelled to observe the uniform, and the shape inside it, and found it rather appealing. "Yeah, it suits him," she agreed aloud. She found herself imagining how it would feel to "pull that green uniform just the right way" from a certain blonde, and banished the image from her head, mortified with herself. 'What am I thinking? Oooh... Damn you, Malfoy. This is all your fault.'
It was a hard game, as usual. Slytherin versus Gryffindor was a classic match and the entire school liked to watch it. It was also hard to take her eyes from... him. What was wrong with her after all? When had she started to pay attention in such things? And why did he had to become so handsome? She could see why Parvati and Lavender considered him so alluring. He was taller now, and the Quidditch training had given him quite a development. 'From an anatomic point of view, of course,' she pointed out to herself. So what if he was handsome? That wouldn't change the fact that he was a slimy arrogant bastard. With a nice butt. 'Ooh, stop it.' She tried to look elsewhere, but suddenly, both, him and Harry, ran in the same direction, and the crowd went wild while looking for the Snitch.
A load roar started when Harry dodged Malfoy's broom and caught the Snitch, the whole red and gold crowd ran to the field to congratulate the team and celebrate it. Hermione, of course, was among the first to get there. Luna and Pansy, however, got there first, and she reluctantly waited while the crowd around them dispersed to give Ron and Harry a congratulations hug. She followed them towards the changing rooms, trying to strike a conversation. When they entered the rooms, she decided to go back to the Gryffindor Tower, where the celebration would take place.
She had just entered the Great Hall, however, when she noticed that her Head Girl badge had fallen from her lapel. Deciding it would be dangerous to 'accio' it from where she was, she traced back her steps, staring carefully to the ground. It wasn't hard to find it. She saw it glinting in the sun light near the changing rooms' entrance. When she bent over to pick it up, the door opened. She raised her head slowly to meet a pair of grey eyes staring intently at her. Malfoy. Shirtless, wet and wearing only a towel. 'Ohmygod.'
"I--I've lost my badge." Why was she explaining herself?
He smirked and passed his hand through his still wet hair.
"Is that so?"
'He seems too full of himself for someone who just lost a game. What is he smirking at, anyway?' She thought, and scowled a bit. Her eyes strayed over his wet body, and she blushed. She tried to look elsewhere.
He leaned against a nearby wall, smirk still in his face.
"What are you smiling at? One wouldn't think you just lost a--"
"You were watching me," it wasn't a question.
"I was... what?!" She tried to control her voice. And her blushing cheeks. If her fate was to die by a quick and fatal heart attack, that would be the perfect time. She didn't, however.
"You were watching me. Looking at me. Ogling me," he put it, still smirking. She stared at him, mouth gaping open. "How do you want me to put it, Granger? Analyzing my perfect physical form to please your senses? Committing my body to memory for further use?"
"Please spare me of your arrogance, Malfoy. I have no patience for it," she tried to leave while hiding her blush, but he suddenly was upon her, blocking her way with his arm.
"I don't blame you. There is a lot to be seen. Quidditch is such an interesting sport, isn't it?" He smiled. "And you know about those uniforms."
She looked at him wondering if he really expected an answer and cursing Luna and Ginny for letting her in that little piece of information. 'Ignorance is bliss, sometimes. And I can't believe I just thought this.'
"But I never saw you fly much," he said, moving the conversation to her. She felt uncomfortable about being the subject. Or was it his closeness to her?
"I don't like it that much. Besides, I wouldn't have the diligence to practice so much, it would take my studying time." She was quite proud of herself for her steady voice.
"It is common knowledge in the entire school that you study way too much. You should try... other activities. It could be a good relief to your mind."
The way he said 'other activities' was quite suggesting. She looked suspiciously at him.
"That's why I like it. A like to practice a lot, until I'm tired. It's a relief to both body and mind, you see" he added, way too close to her. She could smell his soap, and his closeness caused a shiver to pass through her spine. She blushed. Again. What was he talking about?
"W-wh... I mean, w--" she stuttered.
"Quidditch, I meant. What were you thinking of?" his grey eyes showed amusement.
"I wasn't thinking of anything else," she lied, hating the way he was affecting her.
"Of course not," he smirked.
"Well, so that's quite a small mind you have there. I can think of a thousand other activities, if you don't like Quidditch." At this point she remembered the subject of the conversation. A relief... She felt his hand brush her thigh lightly and quickly. It felt like being electrocuted. Her muscles seemed to turn into jelly for a moment, and she almost gasped. She stared at him with wide eyes. He looked as if nothing happened, the bastard.
"I don't like physical activities much," she added breathlessly. That didn't sound like she meant to. Damn him.
"I daresay that's exactly what you need," he smirked, and raised the hand that brushed her leg to run his fingers through his hair. Was he mocking her?
"I mean, 'mente sana corpori sano' says the ancient wisdom. Isn't it? You should pay attention to both," he added.
"Perhaps," she agreed reluctantly. 'What is it, am I flirting with him? Oh Merlin, I lost it.'
"You just got to find the right activity for you. Then, you'll naturally practice it. Practice it a lot," he continued. He said the words slowly, as if savoring each, his eyes locked on hers. "It happens when you enjoy what you do."
"Uh-huh," she agreed quickly, trying not to look at him.
"After all, practice brings perfection, and you seem to be quite a perfectionist person, Granger," he concluded. She wondered if his malicious grin was stuck in his face forever. 'He can't be serious. Right? I mean, what does he want? What is he doing anyway? What does he mean? Arrrrgh.'
"Why are you giving me so much advice about my personal life, Malfoy? Since when you started to care?" She asked, irritated. She was decided to change this subject and forget all these stupid feelings.
"There's no need to be aggressive, Granger. I was just trying to start a friendly and mature conversation and contribute to the development of our interhouse relationship, as our dear Headmaster so eagerly requested." He sneered. "I thought you'd be the first to give the example, since the whole school seems to be engaged in this... cause," he spat the last phrase in a sour tone, denouncing a bit of displease toward his housemates' behavior.
"I-I'm sorry," she said, a bit ashamed. She was Head Girl, she should, indeed, give the example. It was just a friendly conversation. If Malfoy could do that, she certainly could too. 'That's it. So it was just a conversation,' she paused. 'I think.'
"Anyway, if you decide anything about your 'other activities', make sure you find a good teacher, Granger" he smirked suggestively, and turned away. "That's a great step towards liking it. The person has to be really good at what he teaches," he mocked some steps ahead, leaving her alone.
She absently adjusted her badge in her lapel, still staring at his retreating back. Feeling foolish, angry and frustrated, she left to the Gryffindor Tower, stomping all the way.
That was not fair! How could he play that way with her? He was trying to make her embarrassed and confused, and worse, pretending he was doing nothing! 'Damn Malfoy! And what about that towel? He probably thinks he owns the school, the git! How could he just walk around like that and go around imposing on girls, that -- that pervert!'
She entered the Gryffindor Common Room. The party was raging on undisturbed, with loud music and loud conversation. After a few moments, she noted that Harry and Ron weren't there. How typical. Someone tried to strike a conversation, maybe Ginny, but she just walked past the person and climbed the stairs, glaring at anyone who stood in the way. Lying in her bed, she chose a book and opened it.
Half an hour later, she was still trying to read her Arithmancy book before her with no success. As much as she tried to read the lines, again and again, her thoughts strayed to something completely different. His eyes, his voice, his words. His hand on his hair. His hand brushing her thigh. His perfect body, wet, so close to hers... 'Arghhh, this can't go on! Am I going crazy or what?! It's just bloody Malfoy, for Merlin's sake!' There was no way she would actually spend any amount of time thinking about him. Or any amount of time around him. 'Yes, that's it. No more thinking of Malfoy. I'll just keep my distance from that git. Maybe then I'll come back to my senses. I'll start by waking up earlier tomorrow..."
But her dreams that night wouldn't let her stand firmly in her commitment...
***