Disclaimer: Look, I don't own Harry Potter or any of his acquaintances.
'Cause if I did, this wouldn't be a fanfic...It'd be just a fic...
A/N: Whaddya think so far? This'll be the chapter where they hang out the rest of the night and try to tolerate each other.
*************
The Ski Trip
*************
Chapter Four
*************
Aunt Bethany
*************
Hermione grabbed her book and walked out of her room. She went down the stairs and walked into the den and saw that Draco was sitting reading some book. Hermione looked at him and then took the seat right next to the fire.
He looked up as she walked right past him. She ignored him and got out her discman and popped in her STYX c.d. She turned it up as far as it could go and opened her book.
She started reading but soon stopped. She felt like she was being watched.
She looked up and her eyes met with his.
"Whatcha listenin' to?" He asked her. She couldn't hear him. She had her headphones on all the way so that she wouldn't be disturbed. But she did see his lips moving, so she took off her headphones.
"Excuse me?" She asked, a little perturbed that he had disturbed her reading.
"What are you listening to?" He asked again, a little perturbed himself.
"STYX." She said simply. Then she turned back to the fire and looked at it for a while. "So my aunt's a witch, right?"
He didn't answer. He just looked at her. He didn't need to answer that. She already knew. She wasn't expecting an answer, nor was he going to give her one. And they just sat there like that, Hermione staring into the fire and Draco looking at Hermione. She didn't know why, but she didn't mind him looking at her.
After a few moments of silence, she couldn't take the endless quiet, so she put her headphones back on; but she didn't turn back to her book. She looked back a Draco.
"Look, if we're going to survive the three weeks we're going to be here, we have to make a truce. Ok?" She asked him. She got up and walked over to him and stuck out her hand for him to shake.
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow until her finally placed his hand in hers. Then he said, "What am I agreeing to? That I won't call you a mudblood and you won't call me a ferret?"
"No." She said. "No incessant insults in any way, shape, or form, Ok?"
"Urgh. You drive a hard bargain. But you won't be able you call me a ferret, so I might as well agree to it. Deal."
And they shook on it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The rest of the afternoon Hermione did her homework in the den in 'her chair' in front of the fire and Draco read.
"Hellooooo!" came a voice from the door. Hermione, startled, looked up to see who was there. A woman was standing in the doorway and she was hugging Draco at the moment.
"Draco, honey! I havn't seen you for seven years! How's Hogwarts? Is Dumbledore still there? And who might this young lady be? Is this my dear friend's niece?" The kind looking woman asked, turning to Hermione.
The woman had shoulder-length blonde hair that was in soft curls. She had the most beautiful silver eyes Hermione had seen and a aura of happiness seemed to be around her. Even Draco was smiling.
"Um...Hi. I'm Hermione Granger." Hermione said, stepping up to her.
"Well, aren't you a beauty. I knew Cheryl said that you were beautiful, but pictures don't do you justice. And you're a witch, I see. Do you go to Hogwarts also? What year are you in? What house are you in?" She asked all of this very eagerly.
"Um...Ya, I go to Hogwarts. I'm a 6th year Gryffindor." Hermione expected to get a look of disgust her way, but she got a look of pure delight from the woman who she now knew as Bethany.
"Really? You are a Gryffindor? iIi was a Gryffindor. And, my, you're a 6th year! So's Draco! Do you two know each other?" She asked, looking a Draco meaningfully.
(Draco's P.O.V.)
Man, she's giving me that look again. The one that means, 'Are you nice to her?' and, 'Do you like her?' all at once. Grr. I ihatei it when she does that!
(Hermione's P.O.V.)
"Um...Ya. I know Draco. Actually, we're pretty good friends. Right Draco?" I asked him also looking at him meaningfully.
He looked at me puzzled, but then he seemed to notice that Bethany was waiting for an answer still so he answer the first thing that came to his head, "Ya. That's right. Well, I'm going to go up to my room. You know, the last one on the end on the left? Well, I'll see you ialli at dinner." He said, looking at Hermione when he said all.
"Ok. I'll call you when dinner is ready." Bethany said.
"Ya. I think I'm going to take my homework up to my room. I'll see you at dinner too, alright?" I said, gathering up my books.
"Alright, dear. I'll see to then." Said Bethany, turning and walking to the kitchen.
And so Hermione walked up to her room and dumped her homework on the floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She walked to the room where Draco had so specifically described and knocked.
"Come in." Was the simple answer. So I did. His room was gorgeous. I love the colors green and silver, even though they are affiliated with Slytherin. They are my two favorite colors, and his room was styled with these colors. I was so jealous.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked innocently.
"No, I wanted to tell my aunt where my room was. Of coarse I wanted to see you! What were you doing down there?!? We're not friends! The only reason that we're not throwing insults at each other is because we made a truce! I can't believe you would say that!" He burst out.
I cleared my throat. "Are you done yet?" I asked, irritated.
"Yes." He said, taking a deep breath.
"Ok. Now will you let me explain myself?" I asked again, sitting down in his desk chair, my legs straddling the back of the chair.
"Yes." He said, crossing his arms and making himself look very childish.
"Ok. Our aunts are best friends, correct?"
Nod.
"They live in the same house and work at the same business, correct?"
Nod.
"Well, don't you think that they'd feel different if they had a niece and nephew who were enemies while at school?"
Nod again.
"So I told her that we're friends because then she won't feel different around Aunt Cheryl. And we're trying to be civil to each other anyway. So we might as well pretend to be friends when they're around. The only thing difficult is that we're probably not going to get any alone time here unless it's when we're skiing. So do you understand?"
Nod.
"Ok. So I'm going to go and finish my potions essay. I'll see you at dinner?"
Nod.
And I left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
At dinner I sat next to Draco just because I had to put on the act. I listened to the conversations around me and ate my food slowly. I was thinking about a question that Snape had given us for an essay question. Urgh. Ii hatei Snape. Then I felt a poke on my elbow. I jumped and looked at Draco, who was looking at me, smiling. Not an evil mile. Not a smirk. A smile.
"What's so funny?" I asked him, not worrying about anyone hearing us. After all, we were supposed to be friends.
"You had a funny look on your face. What were you thinking about?" He asked, still smiling.
"I was dwelling on the fact that I hate Snape. Any other questions?" She asked sweetly.
"Nope."
And we both turned back to our food.
"Hermione? Draco? What do you two think about going skiing tomorrow?" Aunt Cheryl asked.
I brightened up at this thought. I absolutely love skiing. I don't even need to consider getting up at a certain time or any of that! I get to go skiing again!
"Yes!" I answer automatically.
Draco seems to take a longer amount of time before saying yes. I look at him, puzzled, but dismiss it by the look he gave me that said he was just tired.
"Ok. It's settled then. We need to be ready to leave by 7:30. That'll give you guys an hour to get your rentals and you can have breakfast up there. Ok?"
"Ya." I answer, and start eating again. I'm going to take a shower before bed and then go to sleep. It is, after all, 8:30 already.
I finish eating and get up and leave the table. I put my dishes in the dishwasher and I walk up the stairs. I take a 15-minute shower and come out in my pj's to find Draco sitting on my bed.
"What the heck are you doing here?" I ask, startled.
"I was wondering if you've ever skied?" He asked sincerely.
"Well, ya. I've known since I was four years old. Why?" I ask, putting my clothes in the hamper.
"Idon'tknowhowtoski." He mumbled.
"You're kidding me, right?"
"No."
"You don't know how to ski when your own aunt iownsi a ski resort?" I ask in disbelief.
"Could you rub it in just a little bit more?" He asked, annoyed.
"Ya, I could. But I don't have enough energy to. I'm going to go to bed. I'll see you in the morning." I said, walking over to my bed.
"Wait. Could you teach me to ski?" He asked as I pushed him out the door.
I sighed. Sure. Now he's begging. I ihatei it when people beg to get what they want.
"iFine.i Just ilet me sleepi." I said, leaning on the doorframe.
"Ok. Goodnight Hermione."
"'Night Draco."
iDid he just say my first name? Did I just say his first name? What has gotten into me?i I thought to myself as I got into bed. But I didn't get to think about it for very long, because I fell asleep.
A/N: Whaddya think so far? This'll be the chapter where they hang out the rest of the night and try to tolerate each other.
*************
The Ski Trip
*************
Chapter Four
*************
Aunt Bethany
*************
Hermione grabbed her book and walked out of her room. She went down the stairs and walked into the den and saw that Draco was sitting reading some book. Hermione looked at him and then took the seat right next to the fire.
He looked up as she walked right past him. She ignored him and got out her discman and popped in her STYX c.d. She turned it up as far as it could go and opened her book.
She started reading but soon stopped. She felt like she was being watched.
She looked up and her eyes met with his.
"Whatcha listenin' to?" He asked her. She couldn't hear him. She had her headphones on all the way so that she wouldn't be disturbed. But she did see his lips moving, so she took off her headphones.
"Excuse me?" She asked, a little perturbed that he had disturbed her reading.
"What are you listening to?" He asked again, a little perturbed himself.
"STYX." She said simply. Then she turned back to the fire and looked at it for a while. "So my aunt's a witch, right?"
He didn't answer. He just looked at her. He didn't need to answer that. She already knew. She wasn't expecting an answer, nor was he going to give her one. And they just sat there like that, Hermione staring into the fire and Draco looking at Hermione. She didn't know why, but she didn't mind him looking at her.
After a few moments of silence, she couldn't take the endless quiet, so she put her headphones back on; but she didn't turn back to her book. She looked back a Draco.
"Look, if we're going to survive the three weeks we're going to be here, we have to make a truce. Ok?" She asked him. She got up and walked over to him and stuck out her hand for him to shake.
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow until her finally placed his hand in hers. Then he said, "What am I agreeing to? That I won't call you a mudblood and you won't call me a ferret?"
"No." She said. "No incessant insults in any way, shape, or form, Ok?"
"Urgh. You drive a hard bargain. But you won't be able you call me a ferret, so I might as well agree to it. Deal."
And they shook on it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The rest of the afternoon Hermione did her homework in the den in 'her chair' in front of the fire and Draco read.
"Hellooooo!" came a voice from the door. Hermione, startled, looked up to see who was there. A woman was standing in the doorway and she was hugging Draco at the moment.
"Draco, honey! I havn't seen you for seven years! How's Hogwarts? Is Dumbledore still there? And who might this young lady be? Is this my dear friend's niece?" The kind looking woman asked, turning to Hermione.
The woman had shoulder-length blonde hair that was in soft curls. She had the most beautiful silver eyes Hermione had seen and a aura of happiness seemed to be around her. Even Draco was smiling.
"Um...Hi. I'm Hermione Granger." Hermione said, stepping up to her.
"Well, aren't you a beauty. I knew Cheryl said that you were beautiful, but pictures don't do you justice. And you're a witch, I see. Do you go to Hogwarts also? What year are you in? What house are you in?" She asked all of this very eagerly.
"Um...Ya, I go to Hogwarts. I'm a 6th year Gryffindor." Hermione expected to get a look of disgust her way, but she got a look of pure delight from the woman who she now knew as Bethany.
"Really? You are a Gryffindor? iIi was a Gryffindor. And, my, you're a 6th year! So's Draco! Do you two know each other?" She asked, looking a Draco meaningfully.
(Draco's P.O.V.)
Man, she's giving me that look again. The one that means, 'Are you nice to her?' and, 'Do you like her?' all at once. Grr. I ihatei it when she does that!
(Hermione's P.O.V.)
"Um...Ya. I know Draco. Actually, we're pretty good friends. Right Draco?" I asked him also looking at him meaningfully.
He looked at me puzzled, but then he seemed to notice that Bethany was waiting for an answer still so he answer the first thing that came to his head, "Ya. That's right. Well, I'm going to go up to my room. You know, the last one on the end on the left? Well, I'll see you ialli at dinner." He said, looking at Hermione when he said all.
"Ok. I'll call you when dinner is ready." Bethany said.
"Ya. I think I'm going to take my homework up to my room. I'll see you at dinner too, alright?" I said, gathering up my books.
"Alright, dear. I'll see to then." Said Bethany, turning and walking to the kitchen.
And so Hermione walked up to her room and dumped her homework on the floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She walked to the room where Draco had so specifically described and knocked.
"Come in." Was the simple answer. So I did. His room was gorgeous. I love the colors green and silver, even though they are affiliated with Slytherin. They are my two favorite colors, and his room was styled with these colors. I was so jealous.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked innocently.
"No, I wanted to tell my aunt where my room was. Of coarse I wanted to see you! What were you doing down there?!? We're not friends! The only reason that we're not throwing insults at each other is because we made a truce! I can't believe you would say that!" He burst out.
I cleared my throat. "Are you done yet?" I asked, irritated.
"Yes." He said, taking a deep breath.
"Ok. Now will you let me explain myself?" I asked again, sitting down in his desk chair, my legs straddling the back of the chair.
"Yes." He said, crossing his arms and making himself look very childish.
"Ok. Our aunts are best friends, correct?"
Nod.
"They live in the same house and work at the same business, correct?"
Nod.
"Well, don't you think that they'd feel different if they had a niece and nephew who were enemies while at school?"
Nod again.
"So I told her that we're friends because then she won't feel different around Aunt Cheryl. And we're trying to be civil to each other anyway. So we might as well pretend to be friends when they're around. The only thing difficult is that we're probably not going to get any alone time here unless it's when we're skiing. So do you understand?"
Nod.
"Ok. So I'm going to go and finish my potions essay. I'll see you at dinner?"
Nod.
And I left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
At dinner I sat next to Draco just because I had to put on the act. I listened to the conversations around me and ate my food slowly. I was thinking about a question that Snape had given us for an essay question. Urgh. Ii hatei Snape. Then I felt a poke on my elbow. I jumped and looked at Draco, who was looking at me, smiling. Not an evil mile. Not a smirk. A smile.
"What's so funny?" I asked him, not worrying about anyone hearing us. After all, we were supposed to be friends.
"You had a funny look on your face. What were you thinking about?" He asked, still smiling.
"I was dwelling on the fact that I hate Snape. Any other questions?" She asked sweetly.
"Nope."
And we both turned back to our food.
"Hermione? Draco? What do you two think about going skiing tomorrow?" Aunt Cheryl asked.
I brightened up at this thought. I absolutely love skiing. I don't even need to consider getting up at a certain time or any of that! I get to go skiing again!
"Yes!" I answer automatically.
Draco seems to take a longer amount of time before saying yes. I look at him, puzzled, but dismiss it by the look he gave me that said he was just tired.
"Ok. It's settled then. We need to be ready to leave by 7:30. That'll give you guys an hour to get your rentals and you can have breakfast up there. Ok?"
"Ya." I answer, and start eating again. I'm going to take a shower before bed and then go to sleep. It is, after all, 8:30 already.
I finish eating and get up and leave the table. I put my dishes in the dishwasher and I walk up the stairs. I take a 15-minute shower and come out in my pj's to find Draco sitting on my bed.
"What the heck are you doing here?" I ask, startled.
"I was wondering if you've ever skied?" He asked sincerely.
"Well, ya. I've known since I was four years old. Why?" I ask, putting my clothes in the hamper.
"Idon'tknowhowtoski." He mumbled.
"You're kidding me, right?"
"No."
"You don't know how to ski when your own aunt iownsi a ski resort?" I ask in disbelief.
"Could you rub it in just a little bit more?" He asked, annoyed.
"Ya, I could. But I don't have enough energy to. I'm going to go to bed. I'll see you in the morning." I said, walking over to my bed.
"Wait. Could you teach me to ski?" He asked as I pushed him out the door.
I sighed. Sure. Now he's begging. I ihatei it when people beg to get what they want.
"iFine.i Just ilet me sleepi." I said, leaning on the doorframe.
"Ok. Goodnight Hermione."
"'Night Draco."
iDid he just say my first name? Did I just say his first name? What has gotten into me?i I thought to myself as I got into bed. But I didn't get to think about it for very long, because I fell asleep.