Hogwarts' Hero
Chapter 5
A/N: Thanks to thoroughbredchickie, firesorceress1, that-silent-scream24, innocentrose, Karana Belle, Meleine, DracMione, mel62 and moonless-me for reviewing. You guys really are the greatest;)
Hermione looked up at Draco, a look of horror washing over her features. She did not want to deal with him right now. A silence passed between them.
"I know I'm breathtaking Granger, but really, you should try to regain your grasp on the English language. You're no fun when your mouth is just hanging open like that."
Malfoy looked down at her crouched before him, and smiled mischievously, "Oh, wait . . ."
Hermione scrunched up her face in disgust when she realized what he meant. She glared up at him.
"Of all the foul, repulsive, sicken—"
"Granger," Malfoy interrupted, "I'm afraid your words don't have the same impact when you're kneeling in front of me like that."
Bloody, arrogant, insufferable git!
Hermione jumped to her feet, forgetting about her spilt parchments, and growled, "What do you want Malfoy? A little chat? Need some quality making fun of the Mudblood time? Well guess what? I don't have time for an inbred prick like you."
Hermione stepped up close to Draco, and punctuated each of her questions by angrily poking Malfoy in the chest.
Malfoy swatted her hand away like it was nothing but an annoying bug. This served to anger Hermione further.
Draco smirked at her and asked, "Really? Because you seemed quite interested in me during the lesson."
"Oh, well . . . that was different," Hermione said, with what she hoped was an air of confidence.
"Different how?" Draco asked, crossing his arms lazily over his chest as he leaned on the desk beside him.
Hermione was tired of answering questions, and decided to turn the tables on him.
'See how he likes it,' Hermione sniffed.
"Well, I wasn't thinking about you, I was thinking about all the rumours floating about," Hermione clarified.
The corners of her mouth curled upwards when she noticed Malfoy's smirk falter.
'Ha! Take that, you bloody, bloody prat!' her inner voice shouted with glee.
She couldn't help but smile victoriously when she asked, "So, is it true, Malfoy? Have you gone soft? Always there to protect the weak and defenseless?"
Malfoy knew exactly what she was up to, so he returned, "Yep, the whole bit. White stallion, shining armour and a smitten mob of damsels in distress. I swear! Saving the day is quite a hassle when you've got them chasing you about."
He smiled a roguish smile.
'Malfoys should not be allowed to smile roguish smiles. It's bloody unfair. They could steal the clothes right off your back, and as soon as they smiled, you would ask if there was anything else you could do for them,' Hermione mused.
The sneaky bastard.
"You are the most conceited person I've ever met," Hermione sighed exasperatedly.
She bent back down to gather up her papers, signaling the end of their little exchange. She was tired of his childish behavior. As Hermione reached out to grab them, all the pages flew towards Malfoy.
Hermione looked up, surprised, and saw Draco holding his wand up triumphantly in one hand, and her parchments in the other.
"What is your problem?!" Hermione shrieked, outraged. "We have classes to get to. Don't you understand, we're going to be la—"
Hermione was cut off by a shrill whistle, signaling the beginning of their third class. Hermione's eyes widened, and her face paled.
"Oh no!" she cried. "We're late, and it's all your bloody fault," Hermione accused, whirling on Draco. "Now, give me back my papers before I hex you to China and back."
Malfoy smiled and held the parchments over his head, out of Hermione's reach. "Tsk, tsk. Ask nicely, or you'll never get them back."
"Why are you doing this Malfoy?" Hermione asked, frustrated.
Malfoy looked at her, and for once in his life, answered truthfully, "Because you're the only one who doesn't treat me any differently, like I'm some hero. We'll always dislike each other, and somehow, this is the only bit of normalcy I have left."
Hermione was unnerved by the serious turn their confrontation had taken.
Timidly she asked, "What is this all about Malfoy? What really happened?"
Malfoy looked at her for a long moment, and then he sneered, "Have your bloody papers, Mudblood."
He threw them on the floor and stormed out of the room.
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Hermione arrived late to Arithmancy, and told Professor Vector it was because she had to take care of issues with another student, and she promised that it wouldn't happen again. The professor seemed to accept this, and told her to get the notes she had missed from another student.
The class ran smoothly, and because Arithmancy was Hermione's favourite subject, she didn't have time to dwell on her exchange with Malfoy in the Potions room. She blissfully lost herself in a world of numbers and calculations until they were dismissed, and sent off to lunch.
Harry and Ron were already in the Great Hall when she arrived, and smiled at her when she sat down.
Hermione smiled back and asked, "How was Divination?"
"Awful, simply awful," Harry replied.
"Oh, what happened?" Hermione inquired comfortingly.
"It was a riot," Ron interjected joyfully. "Trelooney really out did herself."
"What did the old fraud prophesize this time?" Hermione asked, disdainfully.
"That he'd die," Ron answered, patting Harry on the shoulder.
"Doesn't she say that every class?"
"Yeah," Harry replied forlornly. "But this time she prophesized that an anvil was going to fall on my head and squash me. Voldemort I can deal with, but when I'm going to die like a cartoon character . . . and everyone laughed. Very funny they all said. And it's only the first day! Imagine what she has in store for me tomorrow!"
Hermione smiled at Harry's distress, as his head rested on the table.
"Cheer up, Harry!" Hermione said. "At least you're not going to get hit over the head with a frying pan."
Harry raised his head, and chuckled. He looked over at Ron and said, "You know, we do have Divination homework tonight, and I bet Trelawney would be pleased if we came up with some really creative ways for me to die . . . "
The boys shared a grin, and Hermione laughed.
Honestly.
They spent the rest of lunch coming up with more ways for Harry to kick the bucket. Hermione was having fun joking around with her friends, but the events of that morning were still bothering her.
'Should I tell them about what happened with Malfoy?' Hermione wondered, glancing over at Harry and Ron. They were laughing away over Harry's heart failing from eating a wonky Bertie Botts Every Flavour Bean.
'I'm sure they'd overreact,' she reasoned. 'It was just a small row, nothing to get worked up over. Besides, I can take care of myself.'
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The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. History of magic was particularly bland, and Professor McGonagall decided that just because it was the first day was not reason enough to stop her from assigning an eight inch essay on the advantages and disadvantages of transforming toads into cushions.
So, this was why Hermione was busily working away at her usual table in the corner of the library. Nobody dared disturb her here. Everyone knew that when Hermione was in the Library, she meant business.
This is why when Draco Malfoy pulled up a chair, and sat down at the table Hermione was so surprised. That, and the fact that he was Draco Malfoy.
He smirked. "So, what are you working on?"
A/N: My, my, my. What could Draco be up to? Ahehehehehe. I'm really starting to enjoy cliffhangers, they're so much fun! Well, when you're writing them, anyway. I hope you liked this chapter, and please forgive the naughtiness in the beginning. Not sure if I'm any good at writing the D/Hr dialogue, so you gotta tell me what you think. Oh, and I might update sooner if I get at least 10 reviews for this chapter . . . . . : : wink, wink : :
