Chapter Three
In the course of the next few days, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger had established an unspoken schedule, to which they followed with extreme observance. Six to six thirty in the morning would be the Head Girl's given time in the bathroom, and the following thirty minutes would be for the Head Boy. Right after that, at exactly seven a.m. they would remember to tidy up the Common Room (as they were amazingly meticulous and organized people), then at seven fifteen, they would grab their bags and make their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Along the way, they would hardly speak, except for the usual things - such as asking if they had completed the assignments they were given as a pair.
Throughout the day, they would not talk, unless they were in the same class and partnered up to complete a task. Even the phrases they exchanged, however, were usually short-lived. Hermione would stick by Harry and Ron, and Draco remained to be always flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
In the evenings, they would usually meet up in their cozy Common Room; it would always be Hermione who would arrive first and then a few minutes later, Draco would follow and find her sitting on the carpeted floor by the coffee table in front of the fire, her school things already strewn about. Every evening, he would sit a foot away from her and finish his own work. Ever since their first shared study session, they had taken the habit of sharing a snack and munching on them in the course of their assignments.
It was a schedule the two Heads lived by without failure.
&&&&&&&&
It was about two weeks into school. The bell rang to signal that the first lesson would be about to start and Draco and Hermione, both having Arithmancy first, walked side by side to their classroom, discussing the test they were going to have.
"Do you think the test is going to be hard, Malfoy?" Hermione asked anxiously, pulling out a relatively huge number chart from her book-jammed bag. "I mean, knowing the professor, it might be – "
Draco simply glanced at her lazily. "Relax, Granger," he replied, wrenching the chart away from her and folding it up, "His previous tests weren't that bad at all. Didn't you perfect all of them?"
"Always be prepared for the worse –"
"It's just a measly quiz on one part of the chart, Granger! I'm pretty sure you practically memorized the whole thing anyway, so what's there to worry about for you?"
She shot him a nasty look and grabbed her chart back from him. Draco rolled his eyes. "You're certainly in a lovely mood today," he drawled with sarcasm. "Anyway, you go ahead; I'm going to the bathroom first."
With a smug smile, he disappeared round the corner as Hermione continued on. Reaching the Arithmancy classroom, she was not surprised to find it in the presence of their professor; after all, the students had found out that he usually came by late – the earliest Professor Vector had come was around fifteen minutes after the bell supposedly rang. Because of this, the room was still a bit empty; there were only a number of them who had come in time.
Sitting in her usual place and placing a bag on a seat next to hers to save for her partner, Hermione unrolled the chart and resumed on reviewing for their quiz. No sooner had she started, however, than someone interrupted her studying.
"Hermione Granger," the voice said in greeting. It was a boy, and Hermione looked up from her chart and was faced indeed by a boy she hardly spoke to ever since she had come to Hogwarts.
It was Justin Finch-Fletchley, the same Hufflepuff Muggleborn wizard who was one of those during the second year basilisk calamity who got attacked and one of the members of Dumbledore's Army back during their fifth year. Hermione had not given much attention to the boy since they were fifteen and even then, she was not at all particularly interested in him, and now, as he stood before her grinning, her cheeks got flustered as she smiled back.
Apparently, Justin had suddenly gone through a lot of physical changes – the last time she remembered, he once had plump cheeks, a noticeable nose that somehow jutted out from his face quite nastily and short, dark clean-cut hair. Now, though, she realized that he had grown taller… much taller than Ron, and his eyes, though brown as hers, were unbelievably light and beautiful. And when had his hair become such an unruly mess? It was unruly, yes, but fitted quite nicely with him, just like Harry's fitted him. His nose seemed to look better on him now, even. And the way he smiled! Typical boy-next-door, she thought with approval.
"Justin," she replied, feeling her cheeks turn red as he took a seat beside her. She then realized that she must have not noticed that he was also in this class until now. "I didn't notice that you were taking this class too." She pointed out lamely. Then again, she thought disdainfully, even if the teacher had always announced the names of the pairs, she was always too busy bickering with Malfoy.
Justin laughed goodheartedly. "How's the Head Girl thing?"
"Oh, manageable, surprisingly."
"Isn't that Malfoy bloke your partner?"
"Yes, unfortunately." She frowned. "You wouldn't know how lucky I am to have him as my partner in every class that we're together."
"Too bad that had to happen to you," he replied. He grinned lightly. "I was hoping to have you as my partner for Arithmancy."
Her heart skipped a beat and she flushed even more. The second bell rang and there was still no sign of the teacher or Draco Malfoy. For the first time, Hermione wished that it would take them longer to arrive.
"Isn't it always strange that Professor Vector's never on time?" Justin uttered, "Strange thing to happen for a professor. Think of the time we waste while waiting for him!"
"I know!" Hermione was profusely shocked to find another student wishing that they could make use of the precious time they lost to learn more. On a luckier note, that student was a good-looking boy, who seemed to like her. She blushed as she found him grinning wider at her.
"I'm not usually like this at all with my other classes," he explained, twiddling his thumbs together, "It's just that Arithmancy's my best subject. I was feeling pretty brilliant when I managed to scrape good enough OWLs to get to Advanced Arithmancy. But then again you do excellently in everything…"
She flushed even more. "Oh, no – it's just that – well, I – ," she stammered sheepishly, waving her hands in the air. Not finding the right words to reply with, Justin laughed amusedly.
"Listen," he began after his laughter subsided, "I was thinking – "
The bell rang and sadly (on the part of Hermione), Draco walked in nonchalantly with a smug stride and found his way beside the Head Girl. Before he dropped into his seat, however, he glanced down at Hermione and then at Justin, whom he sneered at. Justin, scowling at the Head Boy, stood up, looked at Hermione with a smile and said, "I'll talk to you next time?"
Hermione nodded and Justin walked back to his usual seat at the far end of the room. Turning back rightly, she gave the Head Boy a cross stare and went back to her chart.
"Well, someone's made a new friend," Draco snickered, crossing his arms together and glancing at his partner.
Hermione merely glowered at him.
"As sickening as it is to me, that dolt seemed to be interested in you."
At this her face, which had gone back to normal, turned beet red.
He snickered even more. "And I'm presuming that the feeling is mutual?"
"Shut up, Malfoy," she snapped. This was exactly why life with Malfoy was almost near to impossible. He was always there to antagonize her and her friends and it seemed as if he enjoyed nothing more than to do just that
Fortunately enough, Professor Vector finally came, and to Hermione's delight, no sneers escaped the foul lips of Draco Malfoy for an hour and a half.
&&&&&&&&
The bell rang for lunch, and Hermione, Harry and Ron, coming from the Greenhouses for Herbology, rushed back to the Great Hall, smelling like dragon fertilizer. They occupied their usual seats by the Gryffindor table and Ron, having always the best appetite among them, filled his plate with mashed potatoes and Salisbury steak.
"What classes do you have afterwards?" Hermione asked Harry. She grabbed the basket filled with loaves, took one, and passed it on to her two friends.
"Divination," he replied, "And then we have History of Magic together, don't we?"
She nodded as she took a sip from her goblet.
"It's Wednesday today," Ron suddenly muttered, the skin around his mouth cluttered with food bits. He suddenly looked thoughtful. "Hey, don't we have a Hogsmeade trip this weekend?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Today's the sixteenth," he pointed out smartly, as he began to count off the dates with his fingers, "And Saturday's the nineteenth…"
Hermione looked confused. "So…?"
Harry, however, seemed to catch his friend's drift. His emerald eyes lit up as he stared at Hermione. "It's your birthday this Saturday!"
Oh. Hermione had forgotten that her birthday was this week. She'd been too busy with school – and Malfoy, she thought disdainfully – that she had not remembered that she would be seventeen in a matter of days. Not that she was at all excited. Remembering her age meant being reminded that this was her last birthday within the walls of her treasured school, and that next year, she would no longer be a student of Hogwarts, but instead a fully-fledged witch who was about to take on the wizarding world.
It was a thoughtful thing that for once, her two best friends – who tended to usually forget her birthday seeing as they were boys – had not failed to remind her so this year. For the past few years, they had usually overlooked it, seeing as they were always too loaded with work and the fact that the Darkest wizard of all time was abound, ready to strike at any time. Thankfully, he had been defeated last year by her dearest friend Harry, who looked a great deal happier now that there would be no more threats against his life and the future of magic.
Thinking back about her birthday, she glanced at them and grinned. "I'll treat you guys to Madam Rosmerta's then?"
At these words, Harry and Ron lit up and Hermione, listening to them as they flattered her and thanked her, rolled her eyes and muttered, "Boys."
&&&&&&&&
Friday night came; it was Hermione and Draco's turn to patrol the castle grounds by the lake. Hermione, all prepared with her wand and badge, looked positively flustered and angry when she emerged from their Common Room. Draco was nowhere to be found.
She let out a frustrated sound as she stomped out of the Great Hall. He wasn't even anywhere near the Slytherin table! It was already half-past seven and all throughout dinner time, he had not arrived.
"That stupid prat!" she exclaimed, now going up the marble staircase of the Entrance Hall. "He knows that we're supposed to be patrolling right now! Wait until I get my hands on him – "
She continued on her infuriated rant against the Slytherin, whom Hermione now wanted to curse and hex and kick so badly. She went through the Halls, now abandoned and dark as these were the halls that were usually packed during schooldays, muttering on and on about how irresponsible the current Head Boy was.
Lumos, she muttered furiously, and the tip of her wand lit up dimly, at first, and then brightly seconds after. "I bet my grades that that git's lurking somewhere, snogging some silly girl too stupid to fall for his bait – stupid Malfoy – thick, dim-witted, dense, evil, pervert, bastard – "
As she rounded the corner, she stopped abruptly, suddenly hearing disgusting noises of people kissing rather… passionately. They were hidden in the shadows and Hermione made a face as she pointed her wand towards them. As she did so, the girl let out a horrified squeal that someone had found them out and the boy looked up to meet the Head Girl's eyes.
Hermione rolled her eyes distastefully and muttered, "Well, speak of the devil. Malfoy."
Sure enough, it was indeed her partner, his slate eyes wide and annoyed that they were discovered – by Hermione Granger no less – his tie loosened, his hair disheveled as if hands ran through them too much, and his lips smudged with rouge lipstick.
"Granger!" he let out irritably, loosening his hold on the girl he had been snogging for an hour.
Hermione ignored him and stared instead at the girl. She was in Ravenclaw, obviously a year or two younger than them, her blonde hair as unkempt as Malfoy's, her robes scruffy and her green eyes looking frightened and vulnerable to what to do in the situation. Admittedly, she was a bit too petite – actually looking a bit mousy sometimes – and Hermione briefly wondered what Draco could have actually liked about this girl.
Without a wavering look, Hermione scowled at the two of them. "Malfoy," she said between her gritted teeth, "What the hell are you doing, snogging a girl at this hour? We were supposed to be patrolling already! You're Head Boy, an example to be followed by the rest of Hogwarts, and here you are in the halls – snogging! How you got the position, I have no idea! You're supposed to be more responsible than this – take your title seriously, why don't you? And you – " She suddenly turned towards the Ravenclaw girl, who jumped a bit, immensely startled and terrified of Hermione, "You should know better – for crying out loud, you're a Ravenclaw – and they said your lot was smart – trust me, there are loads of other boys in this school worth snogging than this git –" she thrust her forefinger at Malfoy who let out an indignant sound – "I cannot believe this is happening! Ten points from Ravenclaw and Slytherin – yes, I can most certainly do that, Malfoy!"
Malfoy glared threateningly at her, but Hermione simply glared back, unnerved. Seeing as there was no use, he merely straightened up, took the girl by the hand and said, "You go ahead then, Granger, I have… unfinished business to attend to."
He threw her an angry nod and while pulling the Ravenclaw by the wrist, disappeared round the corner once again. Left in the darkened hallway, Hermione let out a frustrated groan and turned on her heel to continue on her way down to the castle grounds.
&&&&&&&&
"Insufferable… ferret…stupid…" As she finished her rounds in Greenhouse One and Two, Hermione continued on muttering names and awful things about Draco Malfoy. She could not believe how completely careless and negligent that boy was – he acted as if he weren't the current Head Boy of Hogwarts! Hermione briefly wondered why Ernie MacMillan did not get the position, seeing as he was one of the most serious prefects in their year.
Stopping momentarily before the third greenhouse, Hermione gripped her wand even tighter and gulped rather uneasily. This was the renowned greenhouse which accommodated the most interesting and at the same time most treacherous plants in school, and even the seventh years now had only been here thrice in their whole seven years of stay at Hogwarts. So many fascinatingly dangerous plants lived here, and knowing full well that she was told not to come alone, she thought of her daft partner – immediately, she was fueled to do the job herself and without a second thought she pushed the screen door open and entered.
"Honestly, I hope that prick'll be told off by one of the teachers – that'll show him – of all the – ouch!" Her angry tirade broke off, however, for she had managed to trip over an insignificantly small potted plant – Hermione took to the damp ground and massaged her toe. Fleetingly, she glanced at the plant she tripped on, noticing its petite fuchsia flowers and tiny leaves. Nothing to worry about, if it were someplace else…
But in seconds Hermione's eyes grew wide in horror and she fell back, grabbing her wand which lay a foot away from her and scampering to be on her feet again. "Quiescent Blossoms," she whispered hoarsely, knowing fully well the effects of this certain species of plants.
Within few moments, the flowers gradually curled open, letting out a soft, pinkish gas which enveloped Hermione completely; she felt drowsy all of a sudden and now fully panicked despite her groggy state, she staggered towards the exit of the greenhouse. Her eyelids were now attempting to close but she struggled to keep awake. It wasn't the fact that she would be unconscious for quite a time which frightened her – it was the fact that no one might find her here until morning, and upon waking, how would she explain why she was there in the first place when Professor Sprout might ask her?
But it was of no use – after each great effort of exiting the greenhouse, she felt her eyelids finally close and with a soft yawn, she fell…
She fell into a soft cloud which caught her just in time and she felt herself enveloped in its delicate wisps she could have mistaken for arms…
The cloud was carrying her off somewhere, and she didn't dare ask where – rather, she didn't care… She was tired and she wanted to sleep…
Did clouds often smell good? If not, this one certainly did; its scent was like expensive perfume and aftershower…
And now the cloud was calling her name vaguely… Clouds could talk? She did not know that… But clouds aren't human or magical, Hermione mumbled faintly. But this cloud persisted to do so, and each call seemed to get louder than the previous one. It told her to wake up, but she scowled and refused to… She still wanted to sleep…
Now it was slapping her gently on the cheek… Calling her by her last name… This was definitely an annoying cloud… Hermione told it to leave her and yet the slapping continued, and finally, scowling even more, she blearily opened her brown eyes just in time to see the cloud hovering above her head.
Or rather the person whom she thought was a cloud.
Malfoy.
His slate eyes, miraculously, were anxious and wide the first time her own brown eyes were fully open. His hand rested upon her cheek and giving a huge sigh of relief, he withdrew it – yet as fast as the look of anxiety came, a look of anger and frustration ran through his features. The next thing Hermione knew was that he was shouting.
"What in bloody hell were you thinking going off alone in Greenhouse Three like that?" he yelled, "Have you the sense to remember that you're not even supposed to be alone?"
Hermione sat upright and whilst her partner continued to bawl, she casually glanced around to realize that they were back in their cozy beige Common Room and that she was by the couch, wrapped in a scarlet blanket – done so, she deduced, by Malfoy. She looked right back at him kneeling down in front of her and listened to what he was saying.
"Gryffindors are brave, my arse – more like idiotic –"
That seemed to snap her back fully into reality. "Look who's talking, when you yourself were snogging endlessly tonight!" she snapped. "Don't call me idiotic, you reckless –"
"Don't you drag that into this – you should have had sense to skip that greenhouse if you were alone –"
"Oh, please – you chose snogging over your duties as Head Boy – you are sick –"
"I knew this would happen – you getting yourself into trouble –"
"If you knew it would happen, THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST COME WITH ME!"
And that seemed to silence Malfoy, who opened his mouth to retort but snapped it back shut as he was rendered speechless. As Hermione defiantly glared at him, a series of expressions played upon his face – first there was a look of perplexity, then a look of anger, then unbelievably a look of guilt (to which Hermione blinked to see if it were at all there), and finally, Draco managed to settle on a safe, irritated scowl.
"Well – it – you should still have considered not entering the greenhouse alone, Granger," he muttered lamely, his face reddening slightly, "It was a good thing I came in time to catch you there – good thing it was only Quiescent Blossoms…"
Hermione reddened too and chose to concentrate on fiddling with the blanket. "Yeah, well – thank you for bringing me back here."
There was a moment of silence in which only the crackling of fire was the only sound in the Common Room. Hermione suspected it was already half-past midnight, recalling that the effect of the Blossoms at the least lasted for two or three hours of unconsciousness.
"So you think I smell good, do you?"
Hermione's head shot up to see Draco smirking. She was now sure that her face was now a deep shade of red. She cursed silently, realizing that she must have voiced out her thoughts when she was half-conscious. "Shut up, Malfoy," she said tartly as he snickered and took a seat next to her.
Noticing that there was a smudge of lipstick still near his mouth, she leaned over and rubbed her finger to remove it. Malfoy blinked in surprise as she did so, looking quite unnerved. Realizing that this was not at all something she should have done in the first place, she grinned awkwardly and explained, "You still have evidence of your little tryst."
"Oh – right."
"Well, Malfoy, I think I'll retire to bed now – goodnight." She slowly got up, rolled the blanket in her arms and with one last look at him, she retreated to her bedroom, leaving Malfoy in the Common Room.
&&&&&&&&
Draco awoke a bit later than usual the next Saturday. He lingered in bed a little bit more, staring up at his green ceiling. Wasn't today the Head Girl's birthday? Not that he cared, but he knew this certain fact when he entered her room last night in search for her blanket. It was against their rules, technically, but it was an emergency, thus giving him automatic permission to enter her room – after all, she refused to wake up for two or three hours.
The moment he stepped inside, he had to admit that he loitered around for a bit, knowing that this might be his last time to be in Hermione's room. It was exactly like his, though, only hers were of Gryffindor colors – scarlet and gold – with an immense four poster bed, a wooden closet, an armchair situated by the vast window overlooking a grand view of the lake and the mountains in the distance, her floor covered in red carpet and books strewn about in a study desk similar to those in their Common Room.
Hers, of course, was a little more feminine, with pictures of the Golden Trio and her family by the little table beside her bed and he found himself walking towards it. He surveyed the pictures of the trio and realized that there were around seven of them displayed – it was chronological, starting from first year up to seventh year and in each one, Hermione was in between the two boys; in each one, as well, they all seemed to look immensely happy, and Draco felt bitter all of a sudden. He briefly wondered what it felt like to be part of them…
Forgetting the Trio's pictures, he then turned to the family photographs, and similarly, Hermione was sandwiched between her parents – like the ones with her friends, they looked happy as well. He never seemed to have seen such a happy family like hers, which was always smiling; he thought of his family's portraits and photographs and with an unpleasant feeling he realized that they never really looked quite happy, despite the smiles they showed with perfection. Ironically, he was sure that they were richer than the Grangers and Weasleys, yet, why did it seem like they were happier than his lot? He recalled the family picture of the Weasleys in The Daily Prophet years back and they seemed to be genuinely joyful…
Remembering that he wasn't there to be at all reflective, he shook away his thoughts and proceeded on to go looking around. He approached her study desk, flipped through the pages of an opened book carelessly and noticed her small calendar which was turned over to the current month, September. There were dates marked in blue ink reminding of tests and projects, and one date which was encircled and marked with red ink. This was what had caught his eye, for he picked the calendar up and read September 19th – Hermione's birthday.
He furrowed his eyebrows, replaced the calendar on its spot, took the blanket and scurried out of the Head Girl's room.
Draco kicked back his silver sheets and stood up, stretched and went to the bathroom. Apparently, Hermione was not awake yet for the bathroom was not scented with her bath soaps and shampoos, fragrances which he grew accustomed to and liked. He bent down over the sink, turned on the faucet and washed his face; after which, he straightened up and stared at his reflection in the mirror.
"You're a cute little wizard," it wheezed and he could have sworn that the mirror shook when it giggled shyly. Ignoring it, he ran a hand through his hair (which stuck in all sides), but like an attractive force, his gray eyes averted their attention to where Hermione had touched his face last night. Subconsciously, he brought a finger to that spot and felt his face grow hot. Her touch had left an unwanted indelible mark! Damn the fact that he loved it when she grazed her thumb to remove the lipstick – how he wished she didn't just do that! It was a good thing she failed to notice that his face was growing warm when she touched his face…
Another good splash of water cleared his mind, and not a minute sooner, he dried his face and rushed to the Common Room, just in time to see Hermione emerge from her room. She yawned and groggily glanced at him. "Good morning, Malfoy," she said as another yawn escaped her.
He replied with a good morning as well. She disappeared into the bathroom for half an hour as Draco kept himself busy with reading one of the books she left behind on the coffee table, and finally she came out, fully dressed wearing a black plaid skirt and a dark blue sweater. Her hair was hanging calmly behind her back and she sported a bag hanging over her shoulder. She nodded curtly to him and made for the Portrait Hole, but was stopped when Draco called to her.
"Have some sense to stay out of trouble, now won't you, Granger?" he smirked, watching as she looked at him over her shoulder and scowled. "I might not be there to catch you again!"
She rolled her eyes and left him alone in the Common Room without as much as a goodbye.
Draco frowned. He would bet ten Galleons that she was going to celebrate her seventeenth birthday with her little Gryffindor friends – it sickened him, he thought distastefully… But after a few more minutes of thinking of what they could be doing, he found himself actually wishing that she invited him. He would have said 'no' right away because Slytherins did not mingle with Gryffindors – it was a given – but still, he mused disappointedly, it was just courtesy to invite him, wasn't it? After all he and Granger went through for the last couple of weeks, he would have thought… He had even saved her, hadn't he? Then again, they hadn't exactly bonded properly. They couldn't say that they were now friends, exactly…
"To hell with her," he muttered furiously. Slamming the book shut and dropping it coldly on the couch, he left the Common Room and readied himself for the day.
&&&&&&&&
Right after breakfast, Draco, along with Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy, set off for the wizarding village nearby. It was a brisk autumn's day, perfect for wearing light jackets, which the four Slytherins did – the three boys wore black and Pansy wore a horrid shock pink – and once they had reached Hogsmeade, headed separately in different directions: Crabbe and Goyle made way to Honeydukes, and Pansy tagged along Draco who was proceeding to the Three Broomsticks.
"Oh, Draco, wouldn't you just rather go to Madam Puddifoot's?" Pansy asked in a revoltingly sweet tone as she clung onto his arm.
Draco looked straight on, his expression annoyed. "No," he replied flatly, carrying on with heavy, fast-paced strides that Pansy now had to walk faster to catch up with him, "If you'd like to go there, by all means, do so on your own."
She pouted. "You can't go there alone," she explained, "It's a place for couples – you know that."
"Then look for someone else to go along with if you're dying to eat there."
She kept silent for a second for which Draco was grateful. "No," she replied then, "I'd rather spend my day with you."
Draco rolled his eyes in exasperation. Great gods, this woman was getting on his nerves. She was a leech, that was what she was, always clinging onto him wherever he went. He had had to endure her presence for six years, but thanks to his Head Boy badge, he was a tower and a common room away from her. Too bad, though, that she was around during classes and free time.
&&&&&&&&
When it was nearly lunchtime and Pansy had dragged him all around Hogsmeade to do her shopping, Draco suggested that they go in the Three Broomsticks to have a bite to eat. Pansy willingly obliged and had even hurried him so that they could come there at once for her feet hurt from all the walking they had done all morning.
When they reached the bar, however, Draco scowled as he saw who was inside.
It was indeed the Head Girl, surrounded by her friends, most of whom came from Gryffindor – to his disappointment there were even people from the other two Houses – and in front of her was a birthday cake with icing that read "Happy Birthday" and one candle which, when she blew, gave off little fireworks upon the table. She was laughing gratefully as the two boys she considered best friends each gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, followed by all the other people who each in turn gave presents and handshakes and friendly squeezes.
There was momentary feeling in him which stirred – he wished he could be a part of her little party.
"It's packed with Gryffindors, Draco," Pansy uttered disgustedly. She pulled his hand and tugged on him to leave. "Let's go someplace else."
Still watching her and her little friends, Draco hesitantly walked away with Pansy.
"Did you see that?" she exclaimed as they passed other shops, "I think they were celebrating that Mudblood's birthday – sickening, really – don't you think? Why celebrate at all? She's not really worth all the trouble – hey, ouch – Draco?"
She had given out a miffed squeal as she was now being dragged along by Draco inside a Parchment and Quills shop. Draco walked straight towards the counter, where an elderly wizard smiled politely and asked what he was looking for.
"I saw that white quill displayed in front of your shop," Draco said nonchalantly, "and I was wondering as to how much it is."
The man gave him the price – ten galleons, which was a bit too pricy for a quill, but as he explained, it was plucked from a rare bird – and Draco pulled out the exact amount of money from his pocket, rather caring little about the price. "Could you gift-wrap it please?" he inquired, to which the wizard obliged to do so with a smile, "Thanks."
As they waited for the quill, Pansy gave him a smile. "But I don't need a quill, Draco."
Draco looked at her flatly. "It's obviously not for you, Pansy."
Pansy looked purely taken aback. "Then for who?"
The man returned with the quill in an expensive-looking box and Draco thanked him, exiting the shop's premises as Pansy followed him out. Draco glanced at her and she looked positively resentful. He smirked.
"None of your business, Pans."
&&&&&&&&
It was after dinnertime that Hermione finally returned to their Common Room. Her hands were full of presents and little things she received from her friends – some were food, others were books – and she rested them upon the table by the fire, unaware that Draco was sitting on an armchair, watching her lazily.
"Well, you've certainly bought a lot of things today," he spoke, and Hermione wheeled around, surprised that he was there all along behind her. "Got your allowance?"
Hermione shook her head and took a seat on the couch. "Did you stay here all day?" she asked. "I didn't see you in Hogsmeade."
"Well – yes, I suppose I did. Wanted to bum around." He twiddled his hands and stared at her. "You came later than usual."
"Well…" Why was he being so chatty all of a sudden? Maybe he knew what today was… But that couldn't be it – he would have at least had the courtesy to greet her. Then again, he was Draco Malfoy. "Do you know what today is?"
"No."
Alright then. So he didn't know. Then it was best not to tell him at all. It was around nine already anyway.
She nodded as if to understand and she looked at him and faked a yawn. "I'm tired, Malfoy, so I'll be going to bed now…" She gathered up the presents and headed for her room. "Goodnight, Malfoy."
"Goodnight, Granger." Was the last thing she heard before closing the door behind her. He was acting rather strange… He was being… nice.
She shook her head and placed her presents on her bed as she flopped down on it. She was immensely tired but glad with today's events. Pulling out a photograph from her bag, she looked at it and giggled. Someone had the idea of taking a picture of Harry and Ron kissing her on each side of her face. It was cute, because Ron's ears were beet red as he did so and Harry laughed when he pulled away and gave her a hug just at the same time as Hermione put an arm around on each of them. It was a much better present than anyone could give her – another photo to add to her bedside collection of memories.
When she stretched her arms on the bed, her left arm knocked something over the bed and she wondered what it could have been. Her gifts were all at the foot of the bed so it was strange to have something lying beside her… She lay on her chest and leaned over to the floor to grab whatever had fallen.
It was thoroughly a surprise when she pulled back up and took hold of a box tied with green string. She sat upright and furrowed her eyebrows in curiosity. There was a note attached to it and she opened it, only to find herself shocked and rendered speechless…
For it read:
Happy Birthday, Granger.
D. Malfoy
The words had been simple and yet she was shocked – stunned. She opened the box quietly to find the most beautiful quill she had laid her eyes on. Purely white and long, it was accompanied with a bottle of green ink and she gaped at it admiringly, still quite bewildered that the most despicable boy in Hogwarts had given her a gift. A birthday gift.
So he had known after all.
Without a second thought she stood up and rushed to open her bedroom door to see if he was still in the Common Room…only to find that it was empty and silent, with only the fire crackling happily in the fireplace.
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AN: Horribly long, isn't it? I was suddenly in the mood. Lol. Hope you review! I would love that! And thank you so so much to those who took the time to leave me comments!
