Title: Hate's Sweet Seduction
Author: Kiara
Chapter 13: Defeat Is A Matter of Perspective
Characters: Hermione/Draco
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own the song or the Harry Potter characters, places and situations. Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, Scholastic Books, and Warner Brothers.
Author's Note: I know this has been an age in coming, and I think all of you in advance who are still reading and taking an interest in Hate's Sweet Seduction, who I am sure checking to see if I have updated here, and on my website. Your interest means more to me than you will ever know. I *do* want to finish Hate's Sweet Seduction, I do. And I promise that I am making my best effort to. This is the first fic that I ever really wrote in the HP fandom, and I love it, and I want to finish it, despite the fact that I have changed over the year that has passed since I started it, and I now think that some of my own writing is slightly cliched. :P So thanks to everyone, and enjoy this latest chapter. I hope you enjoy it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione gritted her teeth when Professor McGonagall paused just as she was about to begin the class and addressed Malfoy. Transfiguration was one of the few classes left that actually distracted her a teensy bit from the hell her life was turning into, the last thing she wanted was a reminder of the person who had gotten her into this mess.
No sooner had the tthought gone through her head then Hermione was inwardly shaking a finger at herself. If there was one thing she despised, it was people who were not honest with themselves, and did not take responsiblity for their actions. She was not going to let herself become one of those people, even if it did mean that she would have to admit to herself that she had had just as much a part in getting herself into this situation as Draco had had. She sighed and slumped back into her desk, vaguely hearing Draco smarmily flatter McGonagall into letting him leave the room. She shook her head. How did he get away with it, she wondered. Normally any student that asked to leave so soon after class had started would get a tongue lashing about how one of the responsibilities of being a student was to bring your supplies with you, to be prepared. But of course, he was a Malfoy, she thought bitterly. And Malfoys always got their way, didn't they?
She heard the sound of his footsteps approaching her desk, and leaned her head on her hand wearily, not wanting to have to look at him. She tensed slightly when she sensed him slowing down slightly as he drew near. Please, she thought. Just leave me alone, Malfoy. I don't want to have to deal with you today. To her relief he walked right on by, although he brushed against her arm as he did so. She put her arm down as she watched him leave the room, then frowned as she felt something underneath her arm that shouldn't be there.
Looking down, she saw that there was a neatly folded note now sitting on the desk. For a moment she wondered where it had come from, then she remembered the way Malfoy had brushed against her arm, and realized immediately what he had been up to. She shook her head slightly, biting her lip in irritation. Looking up, she noticed Ron giving her a curious, concerned look from across the aisle. The last thing she wanted was for Ron and Harry to find her with a note from Malfoy, so she gave Ron the best smile she could manage while tucking the note into a pocket in her robes. It would have to wait until she had a moment away from her two best friends.
A couple of hours later found Hermione leaning against one of the stone walls of a rather deserted hall of Hogwarts. She was on her way to Arithmancy, the one class that she still had without Ron or Harry. Looking around to make sure that no-one was approaching, she pulled the note that Malfoy had dropped on her desk out of her pocket. Her lip curled slightly as she registered the fact that it was written on one of the finest parchments, but she quickly turned her attention to reading what he had written.
Granger:
Don't get your hopes up, this isn't a letter confessing my undying love, although I'm sure that your little Gryffindor heart was beating fast at the thought of it.
I want to see you tonight. I don't know about you, but I'm about right sick of this situation, and I've decided that I'd rather be sorted into Hufflepuff than have to put up with a slimy Squib blackmailing me, a Malfoy. I think you're the type that has at least a bit of courage, being in Gryffindor and all, so show me what you've got, Granger.
If you have some spirit like I think you do, meet me tonight in the Astronomy Tower. And no, this isn't code for a snog session. See you there.
Draco Malfoy
Hermione leaned dazedly against the wall as she took in all that was in the letter. Her spirit was smarting indignantly at some of the things that Malfoy had scrawled across the parchment in bold, masculine handwriting. He had no right to say that kind of stuff to her. The nerve of him, thinking that she was expecting a snog session in the Astronomy Tower! Everyone knew that only the first years went there, and the upper years always avoided that place like the plague. Not that she had ever had the occasion to be up there anyways, she admitted to herself.
For a moment she pondered ripping up the parchment and forgetting all about it. This was dangerous stuff Malfoy was talking about. This was her parents he was talking about. But for the first time in days, she actually felt hopeful, actually felt as if there was a possibility that she wouldn't have to betray Harry to protect her parents.
Even if Malfoy didn't have a good idea, it was at least worth a shot to go and hear him out. After all, there wasn't much he could do to make things worse, was there now?
Her mind made up, Hermione pushed away from the wall. As she walked away towards her Arithmancy class, her step had a light, bouncy spring to it that hadn't been present in quite awhile.
But he had better have a pretty good idea, she thought to herself.
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The shadowy dark hallways of Hogwarts were quiet and still as Hermione made her way stealthily along them.It wasn't after hours yet, but it was late enough that most people had no reason to be wandering around the castle. The tapping sound of her light footsteps echoed slightly, bouncing off the rough old stone of the walls around her. Hermione winced slightly when a suit of armour turned its head as she passed, the shriek of rusty metal scraping together sounding loudly in her ears. It wasn't after hours yet, so she didn't really have anything to be afraid of about being out in the halls, but she still didn't want anyone from Gryffindor to spot her. They would inevitably have questions for her about something, and she just didn't want to have to put up with them right now.
At last she reached the library, and Hermione looked around carefully as she stepped inside. She spotted Malfoy right away, lounging against one of the tall cases of books. She had expected him to be watching for her, but he actually seemed to absorbed in the thick book that he held in his hands. For a moment she paused to look at him. She had seen him in this kind of pose before in their years at Hogwarts, but given all the things that they had been through, she couldn't help but look at him in a slightly different fashion.
He shifted slightly, tilting the book in his hands slightly. For a moment Hermione wondered why, then noticed the lantern affixed to the dark wood above his head. He didn't like dim light, she recalled, remembering the Defense Against the Dark Arts class when they had been required to try to send simple curses at an "enemy" under the cover of darkness. Draco had complained bitterly, insisting that any wizard with half a brain would just use a simple Lumos spell, but Professor Lupin had ignored him with a slight smile.
Malfoy lifted his hand, slim fingers turning one of the pages over, and Hermione glanced at the book he was holding, wondering what he was studying so intently. His usual smirk was absent, and a strand of silver-blond hair had fallen forward to cover one eye slightly. Hermione sighed. Despite all the issues going on, she had to admit that she still found him attractive. If she had ever been asked, she would have thought that physical desire would decrease if it caused any problems, but there was nothing she could do about the way her breath caught slightly in her throat when she caught glimpses of him in the halls, grey eyes smoky and intense in their frame of smooth pale skin and silver hair.
Hermione took a deep breath, guiding her thoughts firmly away from the direction in which they were headed, and glanced around the quiet library. It was pretty deserted, only a few students here and there with their attention fully on their books. They wouldn't be likely to notice her, and hopefully not who she was going to be talking to, either.
She made her way across to where Malfoy was standing. He looked up as she approached, and flipped the book shut, although still holding his spot with his thumb. His gaze travelled up and down her form, and she rolled her eyes. Was there ever a time when he wasn't concentrating on the physical?
Then she was standing in front of him, and she tilted her head slightly, meeting his probing grey stare head on.
"Well?" she asked impatiently after a few moments, when he hadn't said anything. "Did you drag me here just to stare at me, Malfoy? Or do you actually have something to say? I don't exactly enjoy standing out here in the public eye with you, I hope you realize."
"Oh yes," he replied smoothly. "I understand that you prefer more...private surroundings when talking to me. Let us move to somewhere more secluded, shall we?"
With that, he turned and made his way down the aisle between the tall bookcases rising to the ceiling. Hermione snapped her mouth shut in irritation. Trust Malfoy to make everything sound so sexual, she thought to herself. She had no choice but to follow him, however. He strode gracefully in front of her, leading her to a small table that was secluded between two columns at the back of the library.
As they drew near the table, Draco turned and made a mocking bow in front of Hermione. "Do sit down," he drawled.
Hermione arched a brow at him and then sat down. She was determined not to give Malfoy the satisfaction of seeing that he could get to her.
"I have an idea," Draco said abruptly. He leaned up against the table across from her, a smirk playing across the fine lines of his mouth. "I can't believe that I didn't think of it before, actually."
Hermione couldn't stop herself from leaning forward in anticipation at his words.
"All we need is to find something to blackmail Filch with," Draco said slowly. His grey eyes were very intense, and in the light of the moon shining through the nearby window, the fine lashes fringing his eyes glinted silver.
Hermione stared for a moment. "You can't be serious," she said. "That's what you dragged me in here for? We already know what Filch will do if we try to tell anyone, Malfoy. Maybe you aren't scared of your father, but unlike you I actually love my family!"
"Would you pay attention?" Draco said impatiently. "I said we should find something to blackmail Filch with, Granger, not that we should run to Dumbledore. Filch can threaten us all he likes, but if we have proof that he's blackmailing us, and not only that, but that he was thinking about hurting either of us or Harry? Even the Death Eaters or my father wouldn't help him then. They don't have any time for stupid people who get caught."
Hermione, who had been listening with a growing sense of enthusiasm as Draco spoke, stared at him for a moment, then stood up and crossed over to the window.
A few clouds were scudding their way across the surface of the moon, but the pale silvery light streaming down from it was still strong enough to wash over the still campus of Hogwarts, setting everything in contrasts of shadow and light. Hermione leaned her head against the cool surface of the window, and drew a breath in. She wanted to believe that this plan could work, she really did. But what if something went wrong? What if Filch didn't slip up...?
A hand lightly touching her shoulder brought her out of her thoughts with a start, and she turned. Draco was standing right behind her, and she looked up into his face warily. Instead of censure or scorn, his face was oddly free of any expression. His eyes seemed to flicker slightly as he took in her tense expression, but before she could work out what it was, his eyes were shuttered once again.
"We just have to catch him, Hermione," Draco said quietly. "He'll slip up eventually, I know he will. He's only a Squib, there's no way he can match wits with us."
"I want to believe that, I really do," Hermione said miserably. "But what if this is the one thing he does right? He hates Harry so much..."
"When people hate, they don't think clearly," Draco's voice was firm, and Hermione looked at him in surprise. He caught her expression, and smirked slightly. "I think you'd agree that I know what I'm talking about?"
Hermione nodded, staring at him. There was something about the way he was acting...something she couldn't put her finger on. He was saying all the things that she associated with Draco Malfoy, but she couldn't help thinking that there was something off about his whole demeanour. All the right words were there, but...it was like there was nothing really backing it up. All show and no feeling, she thought.
She shook her head to clear it when she realized that he was still waiting for her response, and nodded her head.
"I suppose," she replied tiredly. "So what do you think we should do?"
"Well," Draco said reluctantly. "We'll have to wait for now. We don't have any reason to contact him - and he won't expect us to. If we say anything to him, he'll only get suspicious."
"He probably can't think of anything," Hermione muttered.
Draco laughed suddenly, and she glanced at him warily, but there was only genuine sardonic amusement in his eyes. She paused to watch him for a moment. Draco had never really laughed in her presence, not in real amusement, anyway. He had laughed at she or Ron or Harry many times, and at many other students, and she had heard him laughing when he was over at the Slytherin table, sometimes. But she had never really seen him laugh like this, with his lips curled up in a smile that held no traces of mockery, and the corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement.
Their eyes caught and held as Draco stopped laughing. The smile remained behind to curl up the corner of his mouth slightly, but Hermione could see his eyes go serious again as they met hers, and then the shutters slammed down again abruptly.
"Alright then?" he said suddenly. "How long have we been here?" he asked, indicating her watch with a nod of his head.
Hermione glanced down and saw, much to her relief, that they had only been in the library for a few minutes.
"Not long", she answered. "I doubt anybody will have missed us."
"Maybe not you, Granger," Draco sniffed haughtily. "But I am sure that someone has noticed my absence."
"Oh yes, how could I think otherwise?" Hermione rolled her eyes sarcastically, shaking her head. Then she sighed. "I hope this plan of yours works, Malfoy..."
She bit her bottom lip, chewing it slightly, then stopped when she realized she was showing her distress despite all her best intentions not to. Then Hermione felt a long, slender finger slide beneath her chin, and her head was tilted up so she was looking into Draco's eyes once again.
"It will," he said firmly. "I know it will. Filch will mess up. For one, he's up against me - a Malfoy! But," Draco continued on when Hermione raised her eyebrow slightly. "He also has the smartest girl in Hogwarts up against him too. But don't let it go to your head that I said that, Granger."
For a moment Hermione tried to gauge how she should respond, but failed to find a clear idea, so she just smiled. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I know its bruising to your pride to say that."
"It is," Draco replied slowly, "But I don't like avoiding the truth, either."
With those words, he suddenly bent and brushed his lips lightly across Hermione's, so quickly that later she wondered if she might have imagined it. Then he was gone, black robe fluttering behind him as he walked quickly down the aisle, pale white hair standing out like a beacon in the darkness.
Author's Note: Well, there's chapter 13!! Next chapter: Filch finally approaches Hermione and Draco, and we see how the two decide to handle him - and how they handle having to work together for the same goal for the first time!!
Author: Kiara
Chapter 13: Defeat Is A Matter of Perspective
Characters: Hermione/Draco
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own the song or the Harry Potter characters, places and situations. Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, Scholastic Books, and Warner Brothers.
Author's Note: I know this has been an age in coming, and I think all of you in advance who are still reading and taking an interest in Hate's Sweet Seduction, who I am sure checking to see if I have updated here, and on my website. Your interest means more to me than you will ever know. I *do* want to finish Hate's Sweet Seduction, I do. And I promise that I am making my best effort to. This is the first fic that I ever really wrote in the HP fandom, and I love it, and I want to finish it, despite the fact that I have changed over the year that has passed since I started it, and I now think that some of my own writing is slightly cliched. :P So thanks to everyone, and enjoy this latest chapter. I hope you enjoy it.
Hermione gritted her teeth when Professor McGonagall paused just as she was about to begin the class and addressed Malfoy. Transfiguration was one of the few classes left that actually distracted her a teensy bit from the hell her life was turning into, the last thing she wanted was a reminder of the person who had gotten her into this mess.
No sooner had the tthought gone through her head then Hermione was inwardly shaking a finger at herself. If there was one thing she despised, it was people who were not honest with themselves, and did not take responsiblity for their actions. She was not going to let herself become one of those people, even if it did mean that she would have to admit to herself that she had had just as much a part in getting herself into this situation as Draco had had. She sighed and slumped back into her desk, vaguely hearing Draco smarmily flatter McGonagall into letting him leave the room. She shook her head. How did he get away with it, she wondered. Normally any student that asked to leave so soon after class had started would get a tongue lashing about how one of the responsibilities of being a student was to bring your supplies with you, to be prepared. But of course, he was a Malfoy, she thought bitterly. And Malfoys always got their way, didn't they?
She heard the sound of his footsteps approaching her desk, and leaned her head on her hand wearily, not wanting to have to look at him. She tensed slightly when she sensed him slowing down slightly as he drew near. Please, she thought. Just leave me alone, Malfoy. I don't want to have to deal with you today. To her relief he walked right on by, although he brushed against her arm as he did so. She put her arm down as she watched him leave the room, then frowned as she felt something underneath her arm that shouldn't be there.
Looking down, she saw that there was a neatly folded note now sitting on the desk. For a moment she wondered where it had come from, then she remembered the way Malfoy had brushed against her arm, and realized immediately what he had been up to. She shook her head slightly, biting her lip in irritation. Looking up, she noticed Ron giving her a curious, concerned look from across the aisle. The last thing she wanted was for Ron and Harry to find her with a note from Malfoy, so she gave Ron the best smile she could manage while tucking the note into a pocket in her robes. It would have to wait until she had a moment away from her two best friends.
A couple of hours later found Hermione leaning against one of the stone walls of a rather deserted hall of Hogwarts. She was on her way to Arithmancy, the one class that she still had without Ron or Harry. Looking around to make sure that no-one was approaching, she pulled the note that Malfoy had dropped on her desk out of her pocket. Her lip curled slightly as she registered the fact that it was written on one of the finest parchments, but she quickly turned her attention to reading what he had written.
Granger:
Don't get your hopes up, this isn't a letter confessing my undying love, although I'm sure that your little Gryffindor heart was beating fast at the thought of it.
I want to see you tonight. I don't know about you, but I'm about right sick of this situation, and I've decided that I'd rather be sorted into Hufflepuff than have to put up with a slimy Squib blackmailing me, a Malfoy. I think you're the type that has at least a bit of courage, being in Gryffindor and all, so show me what you've got, Granger.
If you have some spirit like I think you do, meet me tonight in the Astronomy Tower. And no, this isn't code for a snog session. See you there.
Draco Malfoy
Hermione leaned dazedly against the wall as she took in all that was in the letter. Her spirit was smarting indignantly at some of the things that Malfoy had scrawled across the parchment in bold, masculine handwriting. He had no right to say that kind of stuff to her. The nerve of him, thinking that she was expecting a snog session in the Astronomy Tower! Everyone knew that only the first years went there, and the upper years always avoided that place like the plague. Not that she had ever had the occasion to be up there anyways, she admitted to herself.
For a moment she pondered ripping up the parchment and forgetting all about it. This was dangerous stuff Malfoy was talking about. This was her parents he was talking about. But for the first time in days, she actually felt hopeful, actually felt as if there was a possibility that she wouldn't have to betray Harry to protect her parents.
Even if Malfoy didn't have a good idea, it was at least worth a shot to go and hear him out. After all, there wasn't much he could do to make things worse, was there now?
Her mind made up, Hermione pushed away from the wall. As she walked away towards her Arithmancy class, her step had a light, bouncy spring to it that hadn't been present in quite awhile.
But he had better have a pretty good idea, she thought to herself.
At last she reached the library, and Hermione looked around carefully as she stepped inside. She spotted Malfoy right away, lounging against one of the tall cases of books. She had expected him to be watching for her, but he actually seemed to absorbed in the thick book that he held in his hands. For a moment she paused to look at him. She had seen him in this kind of pose before in their years at Hogwarts, but given all the things that they had been through, she couldn't help but look at him in a slightly different fashion.
He shifted slightly, tilting the book in his hands slightly. For a moment Hermione wondered why, then noticed the lantern affixed to the dark wood above his head. He didn't like dim light, she recalled, remembering the Defense Against the Dark Arts class when they had been required to try to send simple curses at an "enemy" under the cover of darkness. Draco had complained bitterly, insisting that any wizard with half a brain would just use a simple Lumos spell, but Professor Lupin had ignored him with a slight smile.
Malfoy lifted his hand, slim fingers turning one of the pages over, and Hermione glanced at the book he was holding, wondering what he was studying so intently. His usual smirk was absent, and a strand of silver-blond hair had fallen forward to cover one eye slightly. Hermione sighed. Despite all the issues going on, she had to admit that she still found him attractive. If she had ever been asked, she would have thought that physical desire would decrease if it caused any problems, but there was nothing she could do about the way her breath caught slightly in her throat when she caught glimpses of him in the halls, grey eyes smoky and intense in their frame of smooth pale skin and silver hair.
Hermione took a deep breath, guiding her thoughts firmly away from the direction in which they were headed, and glanced around the quiet library. It was pretty deserted, only a few students here and there with their attention fully on their books. They wouldn't be likely to notice her, and hopefully not who she was going to be talking to, either.
She made her way across to where Malfoy was standing. He looked up as she approached, and flipped the book shut, although still holding his spot with his thumb. His gaze travelled up and down her form, and she rolled her eyes. Was there ever a time when he wasn't concentrating on the physical?
Then she was standing in front of him, and she tilted her head slightly, meeting his probing grey stare head on.
"Well?" she asked impatiently after a few moments, when he hadn't said anything. "Did you drag me here just to stare at me, Malfoy? Or do you actually have something to say? I don't exactly enjoy standing out here in the public eye with you, I hope you realize."
"Oh yes," he replied smoothly. "I understand that you prefer more...private surroundings when talking to me. Let us move to somewhere more secluded, shall we?"
With that, he turned and made his way down the aisle between the tall bookcases rising to the ceiling. Hermione snapped her mouth shut in irritation. Trust Malfoy to make everything sound so sexual, she thought to herself. She had no choice but to follow him, however. He strode gracefully in front of her, leading her to a small table that was secluded between two columns at the back of the library.
As they drew near the table, Draco turned and made a mocking bow in front of Hermione. "Do sit down," he drawled.
Hermione arched a brow at him and then sat down. She was determined not to give Malfoy the satisfaction of seeing that he could get to her.
"I have an idea," Draco said abruptly. He leaned up against the table across from her, a smirk playing across the fine lines of his mouth. "I can't believe that I didn't think of it before, actually."
Hermione couldn't stop herself from leaning forward in anticipation at his words.
"All we need is to find something to blackmail Filch with," Draco said slowly. His grey eyes were very intense, and in the light of the moon shining through the nearby window, the fine lashes fringing his eyes glinted silver.
Hermione stared for a moment. "You can't be serious," she said. "That's what you dragged me in here for? We already know what Filch will do if we try to tell anyone, Malfoy. Maybe you aren't scared of your father, but unlike you I actually love my family!"
"Would you pay attention?" Draco said impatiently. "I said we should find something to blackmail Filch with, Granger, not that we should run to Dumbledore. Filch can threaten us all he likes, but if we have proof that he's blackmailing us, and not only that, but that he was thinking about hurting either of us or Harry? Even the Death Eaters or my father wouldn't help him then. They don't have any time for stupid people who get caught."
Hermione, who had been listening with a growing sense of enthusiasm as Draco spoke, stared at him for a moment, then stood up and crossed over to the window.
A few clouds were scudding their way across the surface of the moon, but the pale silvery light streaming down from it was still strong enough to wash over the still campus of Hogwarts, setting everything in contrasts of shadow and light. Hermione leaned her head against the cool surface of the window, and drew a breath in. She wanted to believe that this plan could work, she really did. But what if something went wrong? What if Filch didn't slip up...?
A hand lightly touching her shoulder brought her out of her thoughts with a start, and she turned. Draco was standing right behind her, and she looked up into his face warily. Instead of censure or scorn, his face was oddly free of any expression. His eyes seemed to flicker slightly as he took in her tense expression, but before she could work out what it was, his eyes were shuttered once again.
"We just have to catch him, Hermione," Draco said quietly. "He'll slip up eventually, I know he will. He's only a Squib, there's no way he can match wits with us."
"I want to believe that, I really do," Hermione said miserably. "But what if this is the one thing he does right? He hates Harry so much..."
"When people hate, they don't think clearly," Draco's voice was firm, and Hermione looked at him in surprise. He caught her expression, and smirked slightly. "I think you'd agree that I know what I'm talking about?"
Hermione nodded, staring at him. There was something about the way he was acting...something she couldn't put her finger on. He was saying all the things that she associated with Draco Malfoy, but she couldn't help thinking that there was something off about his whole demeanour. All the right words were there, but...it was like there was nothing really backing it up. All show and no feeling, she thought.
She shook her head to clear it when she realized that he was still waiting for her response, and nodded her head.
"I suppose," she replied tiredly. "So what do you think we should do?"
"Well," Draco said reluctantly. "We'll have to wait for now. We don't have any reason to contact him - and he won't expect us to. If we say anything to him, he'll only get suspicious."
"He probably can't think of anything," Hermione muttered.
Draco laughed suddenly, and she glanced at him warily, but there was only genuine sardonic amusement in his eyes. She paused to watch him for a moment. Draco had never really laughed in her presence, not in real amusement, anyway. He had laughed at she or Ron or Harry many times, and at many other students, and she had heard him laughing when he was over at the Slytherin table, sometimes. But she had never really seen him laugh like this, with his lips curled up in a smile that held no traces of mockery, and the corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement.
Their eyes caught and held as Draco stopped laughing. The smile remained behind to curl up the corner of his mouth slightly, but Hermione could see his eyes go serious again as they met hers, and then the shutters slammed down again abruptly.
"Alright then?" he said suddenly. "How long have we been here?" he asked, indicating her watch with a nod of his head.
Hermione glanced down and saw, much to her relief, that they had only been in the library for a few minutes.
"Not long", she answered. "I doubt anybody will have missed us."
"Maybe not you, Granger," Draco sniffed haughtily. "But I am sure that someone has noticed my absence."
"Oh yes, how could I think otherwise?" Hermione rolled her eyes sarcastically, shaking her head. Then she sighed. "I hope this plan of yours works, Malfoy..."
She bit her bottom lip, chewing it slightly, then stopped when she realized she was showing her distress despite all her best intentions not to. Then Hermione felt a long, slender finger slide beneath her chin, and her head was tilted up so she was looking into Draco's eyes once again.
"It will," he said firmly. "I know it will. Filch will mess up. For one, he's up against me - a Malfoy! But," Draco continued on when Hermione raised her eyebrow slightly. "He also has the smartest girl in Hogwarts up against him too. But don't let it go to your head that I said that, Granger."
For a moment Hermione tried to gauge how she should respond, but failed to find a clear idea, so she just smiled. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I know its bruising to your pride to say that."
"It is," Draco replied slowly, "But I don't like avoiding the truth, either."
With those words, he suddenly bent and brushed his lips lightly across Hermione's, so quickly that later she wondered if she might have imagined it. Then he was gone, black robe fluttering behind him as he walked quickly down the aisle, pale white hair standing out like a beacon in the darkness.
Author's Note: Well, there's chapter 13!! Next chapter: Filch finally approaches Hermione and Draco, and we see how the two decide to handle him - and how they handle having to work together for the same goal for the first time!!