Longing for You

Chapter 2

"Ah there now Hermione, all Malfoy's are the same; scum the lot of 'em, only like ter put other people down. Remember when I just started me job as a teacher and all 'ere, and he was bein' a downrigh' pain tryin' ter get me sacked? He's like tha', pay no attention, not worth the bother. Here have a cup of tea ter cheer you up. I s'pect Harry and Ron will be comin' back soon enough," Hagrid said kindly as he handed Hermione a gigantic mug of tea, along with several rock cakes on a saucer big enough for a cat to sleep in.

"Thanks Hagrid," said Hermione cheering up a bit as she took a sip of tea, "You're right, and maybe it wasn't Malfoy exactly that upset me, perhaps it might have been all the homework-"

"Maybe," he replied doubtfully, giving her a worried glance.

"How're 'Arry and Ron? I haven' heard from 'em in some time now. You know I was just abou' ter owl the three of ye tonigh' for tea after dinner."

Hermione smiled, "Harry an' Ron are great, they went to Hogsemeade today-" and she went on as she set about telling him about Harry's Quidditch practices as the new captain, and Ron joining the Quidditch team as the keeper.

This surprised her as she didn't really like talking about Quidditch, it was a pretty pointless sport in her opinion, but Harry and Ron talked about it so much she felt it was maybe one of the things she knew most about them now. For most of the past month they had literally eaten, slept and drank Quidditch, they were so determined to win…

It was only after several hours that Hagrid looked out the window again. "Ti's dark now. Blimey tha' the time already? Best be off ter dinner now, Harry and Ron'll be glad to see ye no doubt."

***

"Mudblood!" yelled Ron with rage, getting rather strange looks from the people passing the Gryffindor table. They were in the great hall having dinner, and everyone was in high spirits over the apparently enjoyable Hogsmeade trip. "Bloody bastard! He needs to be clapped in irons! Who does he think he was talking to? I'll show him who's the mudblood, I mean it's not like he can talk; Malfoy blood is probably the dirtiest in the continent!" he said, his face turning a brilliant shade of purple.

"Ron, chill out," Harry told him trying to calm his friend down. "You've just sprayed me with your steak and kidney pie-"

Ron looked embarrassed, "Sorry 'Arry," he said sheepishly, his mouth still quite full.

Harry turned to Hermione with a gentle look on his face that made Hermione feel a bit warm, strange, she hadn't felt like that when Harry was normally nice to her… she suddenly ignored this however as Harry started to talk.

"Don't worry about him Hermione, Hagrid is right, better just to ignore him, although it's a real pity I wasn't there at the time, what I wouldn't give to see you slap Malfoy-" he was grinning now. (Just for dignity's sake Hermione had conveniently forgotten to tell them about the kick in Malfoy's …ahem…delicate area.)

"Yeah," agreed Ron, "Third year was good when he was bagging Hagrid and you whacked him, but this year it sounds like you gave him a full on smack in the face!" he sighed with a look on his face that suggested Father Christmas had just given him a brand new Firebolt.

Hermione smiled at her friends, how they made her feel better was amazing. They were right, she thought. No one was going to bother her, and especially not that slimy git Malfoy.

***

It was some time since Hermione, Harry and Ron had seen the Slytherins; to their great delight, but such pleasure could not stay with them always. It was all too soon when they had to walk once again to Double Potions a week later in an ultimate state of gloom. Snape and the Slytherins were unbearable as it was normally, but being with them first thing in the morning was almost as bad as poking a sleeping basilisk in the stomach.

The trio walked past a group of Slytherins' unnoticed, and talked in a deserted corner for a while waiting for the infamous potions master to come, suddenly Hermione felt someone was watching her, she turned round only to see Malfoy staring at her.

 He gave her a nasty smirk when she met his eyes and sneered, "What you looking at Mudblood?"

She knew it was coming and was prepared. 'Inner poise' she said silently to herself, 'if you ignore him, he'll piss off."

"Lovely weather," she practically yelled at Harry and Ron to show Malfoy she plainly was ignoring him. An annoyed Harry and red-faced Ron nodded in agreement, catching on to what she was doing.

Malfoy only smirked more, "Go on Granger, everyone knows you don't have a chance-"

Inner poise.

 "What do you mean?" she said calmly.

"I know I'm good looking and all, usually what most people wanna see, but I think I should tell you, I'd rather go out with a werewolf," he informed her as everyone pricked their ears, to listen to what was being said.

She still didn't understand.

Seeing this he said, "Come on Granger don't be dense it's not like you. I was just saying that it was bloody obvious you were checking me out just then, glancing at me and then yelling nonsense about the weather trying to grab my attention, I mean really just leave us purebloods alone and get a life," he gave another smirk.

New approach to annoy me she thought he meant it when he said he liked to mess with my mind...she tried to calm herself, whilst feeling herself going pink at being accused of such a thing, and feeling genuinely insulted. She had all the life she wanted. Or didn't she?

Inner poise, Inner poise, oh damn BLOODY INNER POISE. The temptation to reply was too much, "Pardon? Me want you? Don't flatter yourself Malfoy, a sea slug must be better at relationships than you. And better looking for that matter," she said in her superior know it all voice she used in classes when she knew the answer to something.

This response however was a downright lie off course and she knew it all too well; even she couldn't deny Malfoy was actually quite good looking now, in his own little way. But there was no way was she going admit that, especially in front of a roomful of people.

He gave a little chuckle, "Didn't know you were into that sort of thing but-"

She glared at him, "Leave me alone Malfoy, I don't need to listen to this rubbish," Hermione snapped in a very bad temper, "You know perfectly well I wasn't checking you out, you were watching me, probably sending me death glares for all I know…and I wanted you to back off, so-"

He cut her off, "Yeah whatever, be in denial…"

Ron's fists clenched till his knuckles were white vivid lines surrounded by red, "Back off, you wanker!" he snarled at Malfoy.

"WEASLEY, WATCH YOUR MOUTH!" Snape said in an Icy tone, "And ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek, and use of disgusting language."

Hermione only got the chance to see Malfoy smirk openly and give her a wink as the entire class entered the dungeon they were working in today. She felt her face turn magenta; she really did hate that idiot.