Dragon's Flame- Chapter Six
Beginnings
By darthelwig
I do not own them, though I wish I did. Harry Potter belongs to the amazing J.K Rowling. I would never presume to claim them for my own.
I have managed to maintain a PG-13 rating! That's a first for me!
Thank you to everyone who reviewed this story, especially to everyone who has added me to their author alerts and favorite stories lists. I couldn't receive a better compliment.
Should anyone ever wish to read more of my writings, including some originals, just stop by my web site. It's listed on my author directory page. I also have some original artwork and some of my fan art for Harry Potter posted there.
With that said, let's see what Draco's up to…
He took a deep breath and plunged in.
"I want to join SPEW," he said loudly, drawing more than just Hermione's attention. His face reddened slightly as people stared his way but he stood there defiantly; chin up, daring them to say anything. Hermione looked at him incredulously before collecting herself enough to speak.
"It's not SPEW," she said coldly. "It's S.P.E.W."
Draco blinked, taken aback for a second.
"Yeah, well… I want to join, okay?" He cringed inwardly at the bossy, defensive way the sentence came out. The last thing he wanted was to make a bad impression right now. He was trying to impress her, not upset her! He stood there, fidgeting, waiting for her to yell at him or walk away.
Hermione's stunned silence lasted no more than thirty seconds, but it seemed like an eternity to Draco. Finally, she spoke again, and he was surprised to hear her sound so normal.
"Okay, then. Two sickles to join. That gets you a badge." She held out her hand and Draco placed the money in her palm. His fingers brushed her skin as he did so, and a little tingle went through him, settling in his stomach. The world around them seemed to melt away until they were the only people who remained. She pocketed the sickles and said something, but Draco was too busy admiring her to catch it.
"What?" he asked, slowly coming back to the world.
"I said I'll give you the badge later. I need to run up to the dorm and get one." She seemed just the tiniest bit irritated, and he grimaced. He was still in danger of botching this, he realized.
"Okay," he said. "I can wait." After all, it would give him a chance to see her again, now wouldn't it? He smiled.
"What's wrong with you?" Hermione asked.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You're smiling funny. And you joined S.P.E.W. Is this some kind of trick? It's very unlike you, Malfoy."
"I happen to care about elf rights, you know."
She looked very doubtful about that but let the subject drop. Draco was glad for that. What would he have told her? That he was doing this to try and win her favor? Like that would really happen in this lifetime!
"Did you need anything else, Malfoy?"
Draco realized he was just standing there in the hallway, looking at her. He almost slapped himself for being so stupid. People were not just staring now, but whispering behind their hands. He felt a blush creeping up on him again and panic seized him.
"I've got to go. I guess I'll talk to you later, Granger." He took off, walking as fast as he could without looking like he was running away. When they were out of sight, he slumped against the wall, holding his face in his hands. This was only going to get worse, he knew. The problem was he wasn't going to change his mind about doing this.
"Don't let them get you down, dear," said a painting of a matronly old woman that was hanging just across from him. "It always gets better."
"What would you know?" he snapped, and she glared at him, offended. He groaned and stalked off, needing the sanctuary of his dorm before heading out to see Potter and Weasley.
Hermione was going to be the death of him yet.