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Hardly Half-Done

"So you see, Professor," Hermione said, looking up at Professor Brooks innocently. "It's all just a misunderstanding."

"Yes, yes, very well, Ms. Granger," Brooks said, nodding his head and standing up. "Mr. Malfoy," he acknowledged the other student present in his office. "I shall correct the mistake immediately," he told them as he led them to his office's door.

"Oh, thank you so much Professor Brooks," Hermione said, hoping her smile didn't look as fake as it was.

"Don't think about it, Ms. Granger. I'm always happy to clear things up for students," he said, and with that, waved goodbye and shut the door.

Malfoy smirked as soon as the door was closed. "I knew Brooks was a gullible fool the moment I saw him," he said, smiling proudly and then, realizing no one was listening to him, he turned and saw Hermione already halfway across the hall. He caught up with her in a second. Not thinking, he grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. "Where do you think you're going, Granger?" he said.

Hermione jerked her arm back and put her hand to where his had been, touching it gently as though she'd been burned, and then looked up at him angrily. "What?" she asked irritably. "We've already convinced Brooks, haven't we? I've done my part!" she said, almost pouting. She had never liked lying to her professors, not even for Harry and Ron, and doing it as a 'favor' to Malfoy made her feel as if she was committing a crime.

Malfoy's chuckle afterwards was no help at all. "You actually think you're done here?" he asked, smirking amusedly and putting his hands in his pockets. "And you dare consider yourself intelligent," he said, sneering.

Hermione eyed him cautiously.

"If you must know, Granger, you're hardly half-done with your task," he said, leaning closer. "I can't believe you don't know that Malfoys don't just set things straight. We always get revenge."

"I'm not lying to Harry and Ron for you if that's what you think," Hermione said, stepping back from him.

"Well I don't care how you do it," Draco told her, rolling his eyes. "Lie or don't lie, what's important is that you give me, strands of their hair."

"Strands of their hair?!" Hermione gasped. "You're not seriously thinking of—but it's only Snape who has the ingredients and he'll never let students use it, not even you."

Malfoy looked at her incredulously. "Are you sure you're a Gryffindor Prefect? Why, you're thicker than a concussed troll!"

Hermione's mouth dropped in disgust. She turned to leave but Malfoy blocked her way.

"I got my mother to send me a fresh bottle of that potion," he told her. "You see, unlike you Mudbloods, my parents are actually good for some things."

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm still not going to do it Malfoy, find someone else to blackmail," she tried to step away from him again, but he was too quick for her to get too far.

"And just what will your boyfriend Weasley say when he finds out about—"

"Ron will understand," Hermione interrupted nervously. She knew it was a lie and that no amount of explanation would get Ron to understand the circumstance she was unaware she put herself into, but surely Malfoy didn't know that.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you think I'm stupid, Granger?" he asked. "Weasley is an immature git who will never believe anything he doesn't see with his own eyes. Now unless you can find a way to prove that I 'took advantage of you' as you so crudely put it, I gather you're as helpless as a dung beetle when it comes to proving your innocence," he drawled and then curled his mouth into another smirk. "Now, are you going to get me some of Potter and Weasley's hair or not?" he smiled victoriously, knowing she would no longer resist.

She didn't have a choice. Much as she hated to admit it, Malfoy was right. "Fine, but after that I'm done," she said determinedly.

Malfoy just smirked. "I'll be the one to decide that," he said, leaning closer towards her, and Hermione again stepped back warily, her eyes darting around to see if anyone else was in the hallway with them. It was deserted, but, she reminded herself, Brooks was just in the office halfway across the hall. Although, from what Harry and Ron told her of how bad his hearing was, it wasn't exactly the best assurance of safety.

Slowly, her hand crept inside her robe to reach for her wand—to defend herself, in case he tried, anything. She would be ready this time, she thought. But Malfoy didn't do anything. He just stood there, leaning over her, as if reveling in the fact that he was so much taller than she was.

His eyes were so unreadable, Hermione thought it wouldn't have been any harder to read his emotions had they been closed. She furrowed her eyebrows and quickly pushed the thought of Malfoy with his eyes closed out of her head. It was just their proximity, she figured. Being within less than a feet of anybody that evil was sure to keep someone from thinking straight. Or moving, she thought as she suddenly felt as if her feet were glued to the floor. Why isn't he leaving yet? she thought.

Malfoy was trying to decide something in his head and having Granger look at him with such a curious expression wasn't helping speed up the process. It was the same way she had looked at him the first time they kissed and she had thought he was Weasley, and also last night, before he had turned to walk away. There was a mixture of fear and hatred in her eyes that only made him regret more his decision last night of pulling her back.

Neither of them had mentioned it that morning when they met outside Brooks's office, only talking about the alibi he'd planned to get Brooks to contradict himself. And until then, Draco was grateful she wasn't bringing it up. But that was also the reason he was so disturbed. Could Granger really not have felt anything remotely good from his kisses? He still wanted to know. What had she been talking about that first night at the balcony about her and Weasley's feelings? Surely he kissed better than Weasley. And yet she pushed him away last night like he was the filthy Mudblood. She had some nerve. It was supposed to be the other way around! She was lucky he even touched her.

Still not coming up with a decision, he heard footsteps down the hall. Both he and Granger turned and saw Professor Flitwick, walking their way. He wasn't a particular threat, although it was already a risk for one professor to see them together, let alone two.

Malfoy stepped back from her quickly and then decided in haste. "Meet me at the balcony after supper," he told her. "You should have the hairs by then," he said and with that, left to walk the same direction Flitwick was going so he wouldn't have to greet him.

Author's Note: Yeah, I just saw the first HP movie again and realized, there is no balcony overlooking the Quidditch Pitch. Well, this is fanfiction anyway, so I really hope you'll let that one slide.

For this chapter, in case you were wondering, I think it's pretty feasible that Narcissa wouldn't really care much about what Draco asks for and just gives it to him, since he's a spoiled brat.

Anyway, thanks for those who reviewed and hope you leave another one for this chapter.

More explanations (and hopefully answers to your questions (i.e. Why doesn't Hermione just tell Ron it was an honest mistake, etc. etc.)) in the next chapter, I'll hopefully be able to upload soon. Please just be patient. Thanks very much!