Chapter Seven
Hermione snatched the photo away in embarrassment, her cheeks flushed deep red and her lips formed to make a thin scowl. How completely stupid of her to bring that picture with her, and of all people to go rummaging through her bag, it had to be Draco Malfoy.
"Not a word, Draco," she muttered, taking a seat across the Slytherin and shoving the to-be-condemned picture into her pocket. With her face still feeling warm, she dared to look him straight in they eye and said, "It was fully unintentional to have such a picture taken."
Draco merely snorted derisively in reply. "I didn't even say anything, Hermione. But I have to say, what a picture."
At these words, Hermione was sure that her cheeks burned redder. What could he be thinking right now? Would he think that she moved fast with boys? Would he think otherwise? Would he be angry at Benjamin? Would he (she hoped) be finally jealous?
To her dismay, not one hint of envy gleamed in his eyes. Rather, amusement seemed to twinkle in them. Her hopes were dashed once again.
"Draco." Hermione leaned in towards the center, while Draco followed suit. She took a deep breath. "Please swear to me that you will not breathe a word about this horrid picture to anybody else. An oath of secrecy between us."
It was quite apparent that Draco seemed to be genuinely taken aback. "What?"
"Please promise me that this won't even reach Harry and Ron. I know you don't talk to them anyway, but I'm just playing safe."
"Horrid?"
She blinked. "What?"
"You think that picture is horrid?"
Hermione chuckled. "As sweet as the notion Benjamin had, it's not exactly a photo I'd proudly frame." And besides, she added silently, I'd rather wish it were somebody else.
Draco mumbled something incoherent that when she asked him what he said, he merely shrugged and sat back properly on his chair.
"Draco…"
He looked at her.
"What do you think of Benjamin?"
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Was she seriously asking him an opinion about that sissy Hufflepuff? The Slytherin in him began to ramble on and taunt Benjamin with names, calling him a pretty boy, a too-good-to-be-true guy who seemed to make girls fall head over heels simply by having his dark hair swept graciously by the wind, the cliché type who came up with cheesy lines that even the intellectual Hermione Granger would fall for, a Hufflepuff who would scream and run away in fear the time trouble came, and oh so much more things he could cook up in his dastardly mind.
How he wanted to say it out loud and clear to this girl that he simply did not like Benjamin the Hufflepuff! No… to be clearer, Draco despised him. Not as much as he hated Potter, but enough to make him want to curse this perfect boy into oblivion. To hell with Potter right now, he thought. He could not help but admit to himself that even Potty and the Weasel were more likeable than Benjamin.
He glanced at the girl who sat across him, who was now doodling rather cutely on a piece of parchment. Her cheeks were still flushed, her amber eyes were downcast, and her lips formed a lovely, innocent pout. Reading her expression, Draco deduced that she felt rather embarrassed about asking him what he thought of the boy who was currently an important factor in her love life.
"You honestly want my opinion?" He asked after a few minutes passed in silence.
"I suppose," she replied.
As she gazed at him in curiosity, Draco could not help but think what good his opinion would do. Had she even asked the members of her little Trio first before him? If he did tell her what he honestly thought of her suitor, would it drive that Ben boy away from her? She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak. Why were her eyes dancing merrily? Would she be more ecstatic to hear positive words from him?
"Well…?" she said softly, leaning in closer. "What do you think?"
He opened his mouth to reply, but instead of the awful words he had wanted to say, he smiled, though his heart was torn apart by the things he imparted to her, and said, "You're perfect for each other."
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And he watched as she left with that other boy, arm in arm and laughing and not caring about the world around them. His gray eyes burned, and he could not help but wonder how she would have reacted if he told her what he really thought. Of course they weren't perfect for each other – how could they be?
Not once did she throw him a friendly glance all morning during breakfast. And then he witnessed Benjamin picking her up from the Gryffindor Table, bestowing a kiss upon her cheek; how deeply she blushed when he did that! He offered her hand and she, like some lovesick puppy, took it without hesitation. While this occurred, the two idiots Hermione called her best friends just sat dumbfounded without much of interference.
Those two blunderheads, Draco thought, annoyed at the fact that the great Harry Potter became too dense and too stupid enough not to do anything to stop that Hufflepuff from taking her away. This was expected after all.
What was he to do now? He couldn't exactly stalk after the couple now, could he? Draco practically murdered his eggs, feeling helpless and absolutely annoyed.
And then a bright torch was lit above his head, as if someone had suddenly cast a flame spell in his mind. Without second thoughts he grabbed his bag, made his way to the Ravenclaw table, took hold of Stella who almost tripped as he pulled her towards the exit of the Great Hall, and took the path which the earlier couple made.
"But what are we doing, Draco?" the Ravenclaw asked, walking beside him now.
"Don't you have Arithmancy next?"
"Well, yes, but you have –"
"Well, I'm dropping you off, then."
He led her to the Arithmancy classroom up in the third floor and sure enough, outside were the two lovebirds. As he suspected, Benjamin had offered to bring Hermione there as his class was bound to be on the same floor.
Hermione, obviously, caught a glimpse of Draco and Stella, for she tilted her head (just in time when Benjamin was about to kiss her) and smiled at their direction. Draco, however, was disappointed that she had not bothered to glance at him, but instead, at Stella, who waved cheerily back at the couple. He was pleased, though, that Benjamin looked positively aggravated that he just missed his chance of a light snog.
"Draco was surprisingly in a good mood today to bring me to class," Stella uttered, snaking an arm around the waist of her boyfriend. "Weren't you, love?"
Hermione shot a surprised look at him, and Draco gazed back at her expectantly. Of course she knew that never once was he that sort of boyfriend. As much as he was loyal to a girl he truly liked, it was not in Draco Malfoy to accompany her to her classes first thing in the morning on his own initiative. After all, he was still a Slytherin – supposedly uncaring and devoid of any public displays of affection.
"I was even thinking that he was only doing this to get an excuse to see you, Hermione," Stella added with a wink, and Draco wrenched his arm away from her and gazed at her aghast. The Ravenclaw smiled sweetly up at him and then glanced at Hermione, who, Draco noted, was biting her lip rather uncomfortably.
Benjamin laughed. "That's rich!" He put an arm around Hermione – which was obviously done possessively – and glanced at him rather subtly, and, Draco noticed, that utter loathing was burning in his blue eyes. He smirked back and just in time, the bell rang.
"I'll see you later?" Benjamin asked Hermione, kissing her on the cheek.
"Alright."
"Usual place?"
She nodded.
Usual place? Draco raised an eyebrow, wondering where that place was.
He could not linger any longer, for the bell rang once again, and so with a quick peck from Stella and a fleeting glance at Hermione, he raced down the stairs for his first class.
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"What?" Hermione stared blankly at her partner. In the middle of solving a problem both seventh years had been tasked to do during Arithmancy, Stella had suddenly brought up the queerest of conversation topics – Draco Malfoy.
The petite Ravenclaw shrugged and twirled her quill thoughtfully. "You heard me – I really do think that you and Benjamin – you two don't really come nicely together."
"And so you're implying… what?"
Stella dipped her quill into the ink bottle and grinned mischievously. "It's just a personal opinion of mine, dear," she said, "But to be honest, you would do much better with Draco."
Hermione sighed and looked over her charts of numbers. "You do realize that you are talking about your boyfriend looking great with me, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"And do you know what I think, Stella?" Hermione paused, finishing some calculations. She looked up and faced her. "I like Benjamin. I like him a lot." She said it as if to finish their conversation and Stella could do nothing but roll her eyes and do her end of their work.
It was very obvious that this girl did not mean a thing she said. Her brown eyes were clouded over with remorse and she was very much flustered ever since the morning incident. Pathetic little lovestruck fools these two were, Stella thought with such gusto. Oh, how she would wade in joy and pride when in the end, she would be able to put things right.
But how? She thought. Under the circumstances, neither of her subjects would never move on their own initiative. In addition, she was still Draco's boyfriend and Benjamin was still in the picture, involved with Hermione.
Peering over her number charts, she thought for a solution.
Suddenly, she had an idea.
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Evening finally came and Hermione, having finished her dinner early, explained to her two friends that she had to leave for patrolling. It was her turn tonight and Blaise Zabini, the current Head Boy, would be taking duties off until tomorrow.
She adjusted her Head Girl badge and turned to Harry and Ron. "You two go ahead to the Common Room," she said, standing up and straightening her school robes. "I'll be back at around nine."
"Look who's coming, Hermione," Harry replied, adjusting his glasses and staring off over her shoulder, "It's your…" He made a face. "Boyfriend."
Hermione followed his gaze; turning around, she slightly frowned. Sure enough, there was the dashing Hufflepuff, making his way towards her with a handsome smile.
"No offense," Ron whispered testily, "But he's awfully the clingy type. I mean, if you're not annoyed by that, I certainly am, Hermione!" He offered her an apologetic smile, and glanced at the newcomer. Harry merely nodded and fired up a conversation with Ron.
"Head Girl duties?" Benjamin asked once he arrived by her side.
Hermione nodded.
He looked at her thoughtfully. "Do you think I could come with you?" He took her hand and pulled her towards the great oak doors of the Hall. She obliged, following his lead. Once they reached the outside, Hermione sighed and glanced up at Benjamin.
For once, Ron was rather right and Hermione fully agreed with her friend. Benjamin was rather clingy to her; he was always there day and night. Whenever they were free, he would end up by her side, somewhat desperately wanting to always be with her every moment of the day. As good and affectionate his intentions were, it was downright annoying. He was nice, that was for sure, but he had somehow reached the line. Merlin, they weren't even officially a couple!
Hermione broke into a small smile. "As much as I would enjoy that," she replied, "That would be against school rules, Benjamin."
"But you'd be alone!"
"I do have my wand, you know." She pulled her wand out for a demonstration. "You have to realize that it would be after hours and that rule also applies to you; you'd be a student out of bed, and that could cost Hufflepuff points."
He sighed in defeat and reached out to touch her face. His great blue eyes filled with genuine concern, he said, "Oh alright then. Be careful, Hermione." He leaned in, pecked her gently on the cheek and went back to the Great Hall.
Finally alone, Hermione sighed in frustration and placed her hand on the spot where he had kissed her. How many times had she already received his kisses? Fifty maybe, in the last few days. Unsurprisingly, not one of them was memorable. Then again, she thought as she bounded up the stairs to the next floor, she never really allowed herself to be kissed by him on the lips. That might have been more unforgettable, but she would never in her life allow it.
Lumos, she muttered and her wand's tip lit brightly. She walked on through the halls in silence, her shoe's heels making clicking noises against the stone floor.
What in the world was her problem anyway?
Here was this amazing boy who seemed to like every inch of her; in his eyes, she was a goddess, an angel meant to be admired. He was undoubtedly handsome; his cerulean eyes were astoundingly mesmerizing and his hair was what her fingers were meant to through for. He considered himself blessed when he was with her! Not many of the male population thought of her that way.
She, however, found it entirely too annoying. Was it because she was certain that he'd do anything for her? Was she looking for a challenge? She abhorred being pampered by him; she never told him so, but she was planning to in a couple of days. Hermione Granger was independent and logical; she was never made to be constantly taken care of by Benjamin.
But then again, he was just being loving and demonstrative about his affection for her. There was nothing seriously wrong about that.
Then what in the world was wrong with Benjamin?
Simple really, a voice in her mind replied, he's not Draco Malfoy.
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Forty-five minutes later, Hermione had finished with the upper floors and was now down by the castle grounds, her wand still illuminated and her Head Girl badge gleaming. Her mind was now at ease as she found a way to distract herself from her romance problems – she simply thought of the lessons she had today in her subjects.
Approaching her favorite tree – the weeping willow under which she spent her time alone with Malfoy – she realized that someone was there, a student out of bed. She inched closer towards the figure and pointed at him or her with her wand. "You there!"
With a sinking feeling, she realized that the person had fair hair and a green tie. It was a boy, no doubt, and with her face flushing a dark shade of red, she undoubtedly suspected it was Malfoy.
Sure enough, when he turned to glance at her, there were those stormy gray eyes and that infamous smirk he loved to wear. Her heart pounding, Hermione lowered her wand and grinned slightly.
"You know you shouldn't be here," she muttered, "It's after hours."
"How else would I be able to talk to you alone without that Hufflepuff on your tail?" Hermione laughed as he took her by the wrist and pulled her down to sit beside him. He took a rock from the grass and threw it into the lake.
"So you've noticed too?" Hermione muttered the counterspell and the light from her wand receded. "That makes three of you then."
"Come on, woman, that Bob is absolutely a pain," Draco cried, "He is a leech. Offense intended."
Hermione felt the obligation to defend Benjamin. "He just likes spending time with me. You should know that he seems to like me a lot." Her face burned as she spoke her last sentence and Draco turned away to look ahead of him.
They were silent for a moment. Crickets chirped in their surroundings, and once or twice, there was a splash in the lake, undoubtedly caused by the Giant Squid. Draco seemed to refuse to look at her and Hermione considered if she should leave; besides, she suspected that it was past nine already and she had promised Harry and Ron that she would be back by this hour.
No sooner had she made up her mind to leave than Draco suddenly took her hand. It happened all too fast and Hermione was permanently frozen on the ground, all too surprised by his sudden action.
"We haven't been seeing much of each other for the past few days," he said quietly, grasping her hand tightly. "That prat's been stealing you away from Potter, Weasley… and me."
Hermione looked down at their hands, his entwined with hers. As much as she felt for him, this was entirely too wrong. "You have Stella, Malfoy." She smiled lightly and wrenched her hand away. Stella would be devastated if she found out that she was holding hands with a boy who was already taken…
She cleared her mind and decided to leave for the best. "It's getting late, Malfoy," she said, standing up and brushing off any dirt that stuck to her skirt. "You'd better go back to your dormitory before I deduct points from Slytherin." It ached to have him near her. The sooner she was away from him, the better.
Draco stood up as well, and smirked. "Blackmailing me, Granger?" he grinned, "My, my, I've been a bad influence, eh?"
"Goodnight, Draco." She turned to walk back to the castle, but a second later, he popped by her side, draping an arm casually over her shoulders. Hermione glanced up at him in surprise. "What in the world are you doing?"
"I might as well make good use of the time that we're alone." He grinned. "I can do this, can't I?"
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. No one was here anyway. "Yes, yes, you can –"
But she was cut short, for as soon as they had entered the castle entrance, she froze.
A few feet away from them was Benjamin, bewildered to find that they were together.
