-Of Cruel Ironies and Potions-
Hermione entered the castle, closing the oak door behind her and shutting out the cold. She wasn't surprised to find that no one was waiting for her, or even looking for her. The bitterness in her heart deepened, wishing and desiring for someone, anyone, to be searching and worrying about her. But there was no one. Another layer was added to the walls around her heart. She wouldn't let her most prized possession be damaged.
She walked the halls toward the Gryffindor dorms, lost in thoughts of her own. She reached the Fat Lady sooner than she had anticipated, and stated stonily, "Lopsided lemon drops." The portrait swung open, admitting her, and she stepped into the fire lit common room that serviced all the Gryffindors. There were only a few people in the common room, sitting on chairs, playing chess, or talking in small groups. Most of them didn't even notice her enter at all. She walked across and collapsed into her favorite chair, directly in front of the fire. Gosh, it felt good to be back. The light from the fire played on her face, warming it and throwing strange shadows across it.
Hermione soon found her eyelids heavy. She curled up in the chair and promptly slid into a peaceful sleep.
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Someone was shaking her. No, no, no. Just five more minutes, please? She thought. "Hermione? Come on Hermione! You'll be late for breakfast!" That did it. She sat up with a bolt.
"Harry?" she questioned, bewildered for a moment.
"Yes, it's Harry. Come on, Herm. If you don't go get ready now, you might miss your first class. We're already missing part of breakfast."
"Thanks, Harry. I don't know how I could have fallen asleep in the chair."
"Don't worry about it Hermione. Just hurry up!"
Hermione hurried up the stairs to her dorm. She rummaged through her stuff and pulled out a set of clothes and a robe and hurried off toward the showers. She undressed and let the warm water run all over her body, warming her to her core.
She dressed quickly and hurridly ran a brush through her hair, which was still wet, and hurried down to meet Harry.
"Come on, Herm. If we hurry, we'll be able to snatch a piece of toast before Potions."
"Thanks again Harry. Let's go," said Hermione, grateful for any time she got to spent with Harry. He was so aloof these days.
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Harry and Hermione hurried toward the dungeons munching on their toast and laughing like old times. "Harry?" said someone behind them. They both turned to see Ginny hurrying toward them through the throng of students in the halls, all milling about in the direction of their classes. "Give me just a minute, Hermione. I'll be right back."
"Right, Harry," muttered Hermione, her heart plummeting. "Sure." She watched him hurry off toward Ginny, leaving her. She turned and moved with the crowd to her class. She dreaded more than ever having to face Snape today.
Hermione walked into the dungeon and took her usual seat. The other students casually walked in, among them, Ron and Lavender, followed by Harry and Ginny. She made eye contact first with Harry, then with Ron, looking at them pleadingly. They followed their girlfriends to the other side of the room and took their seats, leaving Hermione alone. This year was going to stink. Even simple things like choosing seats were becoming difficult, complicated even.
When everyone had filed in, the seat next to Hermione was still empty, which was fine by her. She really didn't mind. Snape stood up from his desk and addressed the class. "Please turn in your books to page 378. We will be beginning a Instanto Morticio Potion today, also known as "The Instant Death Potion. Can anyone tell me—" He was interrupted by the door being flung open rather loudly. A very late and very tactless Draco Malfoy came sauntering into the Potions classroom, the classic smirk plastered on his face, as always. His expensive shoes clicked on the stone of the floor. "Would you care to take your seat, Draco? Or would you prefer to interrupt my class further?"
"Excuse my tardiness, Professor. I got lost on my way here."
"Fine. Just take you seat, please." He sat down with a smirk, and everyone but the Slytherines noted that Snape neither questioned the obvious lie, nor deducted points from his house. Draco took the only seat that was left; right next to Hermione.
Hermione cursed inwardly. This year really was going to stink. Not only had Ron and Harry abandoned her, she was stuck in her least favorite class annoyingly close to her least favorite person. Oh, the cruel ironies of life.
"Now since everyone is seated," Snape began again. "I do believe I was saying something about the Instanto Morticio? Oh, yes. This potion is the most fatal of all death inducing potions, therefore, the most effective. It was discovered by Francis Valesco in the early 14th century. As soon as the potion touches any part of the inner body, the subject is as good as dead. Well, dead in fact. Seeing this fact, we will be testing our potions on mice to determine its effectiveness. This potion, however, will take most of the year to complete, and is very difficult. You will be working in pairs as you are seated. There will be no exceptions." He stressed strongly the word no. "You will be working together in and out of this classroom, and I suggest you get to know your partners well, as your grade will depend on the work you do together over the course of this year. We will be beginning now with step one, which is listed on page 378 of your books."
Hermione groaned. Now not only was she stuck next to him, she was stuck working with him. Oh, Harry and Ron were going to pay for this.
"I'm not exactly looking forward to this either, Granger, all though you on the other hand should be quite happy that I have decided to grace you with my presence," Draco said smugly.
"Oh, shut up, Malfoy," Hermione said, the annoyance quite obvious in her voice. Draco chose to ignore it.
"I don't think you have the right to speak to me that way, Mudblood."
"How dare you call me that!" Hermione practically screamed in outrage. "How dare you?"
"Quite easily, I'm afraid. Now, if you would be so kind, we're beginning the potion now. Kindly fetch the ingredients."
"I'll fetch nothing for you, Malfoy, you egotistical, lying prat!" Hermione spat the last words in Draco's face.
"Oh, I think you will. If you don't, I'll tell Snape you're not cooperating. We all know how much he likes you, Granger." By this time, rage was simmering under Hermione's fierce glare, and her eyes held nothing but loathing for this boy who had no shame. How dare he exercise any kind of power over her? Without saying anything to him at all, though her look spelled death, she rose from her seat and proceeded to the front of the room to gather the necessary ingredients. When she returned, the smirk was back on Draco's face.
"I always get what I want, Granger. I'm sure you will come to realize that. You're not that thick-headed." Hermione again said nothing, resolving to remain silent. She was afraid she might hex him.
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The rest of the day passed without incident, which was very boring for Hermione. Harry and Ron headed off to Quidditch practice at around 7:00, and Hermione was left to herself. Again. She had a rendezvous with Draco in the library at 7:30, and she was positively dreading it. They had to look up every ingredient and where to find it, as Snape had elected not to tell them which he was providing and which they would have to locate themselves. This was going to be a long year.
Hermione was finishing up a Charms essay which was to be three feet long when she glanced at the clock. The time read 7:21. Hermione groaned and packed up her things and brought the essay writing materials up to her dorm. As she was on her way out again, she passed a mirror, and ran her fingers through her tousled hair, then thought better of it. It's just Malfoy, she thought. It won't make any difference to him what your hair looks like. Better not to waste time. She left the Griffindor common room and headed for the library.
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She arrived at the library at approximately 7:27, early as always. She proceeded to the back of the library to her favorite table, which, she realized now, she would have to share with Draco. He was so intrusive.
Hermione had spread her materials out on the table, recruited the necessary books, and was putting her quills in order when Draco decided to arrive. The time was 7:45.
"Is being late your new habit, or were you born rude?" Hermione asked, irritated.
"I wasn't late, you were just early," Draco replied. "A Malfoy is never late."
"Our time of meeting was scheduled for 7:30 and you were a quarter-hour late," Hermione said confidently, becoming flustered.
"Well, I changed it to a quarter to eight," came the easy response.
"Without telling me? Again, how rude."
"A Malfoy is never rude, either. I simply felt it was not necessary to tell you."
"Not necessary to tell ME?!" she nearly exploded. "You egotistical, selfish, rude, obnoxious, self-important—" The list would have gone on longer, had Draco not interrupted.
"All of this banter is wasting time, Granger."
"I'm wasting time? I'M WASTING TIME?!"
"No need to yell." He said the last words so reasonably that Hermione wanted to rip his head off right then and there, but she restrained herself. Breathing heavily and red in the face, she sat down and they began their work. It was dull, but quiet work, and Hermione was glad. She was sitting with another human working on a project. She was not alone and she was not unhappy. She was content.
A/N: Well, what do you think? I'm excited to see where this story goes. I hope that Draco isn't too out of character. I'm trying to advance the story without totally betraying their characters, and it's rather difficult. You guys are going to have to be patient because I don't want this relationship to blossom too fast. I want it to be pretty realistic in how it happens and how it develops and what happens during it. The characters are not going to change for my story, so you can all rest at ease.
Please leave a review!
-Ella