So, first in a series! I don't really know how many I'll write, I'll just have to see how it evolves. Expect Pansy in a couple of days, it's in beta now (ah, you have no idea how fun it is to say "it is in beta now").
It was really fun writing this. I wanted to show things from a different perspective, show the things Harry and Draco don't realise or can't see. And of course, each character sees other things.
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Hermione watches them all the time now, more out of curiosity than anything else. At first, she thought she was just imagining it, Harry and Draco Malfoy, of all people? How absurd. How unlikely. So illogical.
Hermione herself is nothing if not logical, and that cold, calculating logic has slowly won over the more emotional side of her. Assumptions are hardly a fair rival for facts, as much as she wants to believe in those particular ones.
Hermione doesn't like Draco Malfoy. Actually, doesn't like is a pale shadow of her feelings, to say that she loathes him would be a much more appropriate sentiment. She may not like him, but Hermione is the most intelligent witch of her age for a reason, and so she doesn't let her less than friendly feelings towards the Slytherin cloud her judgement. She couldn't, not when the truth is so clear and obvious.
It starts, as things often do, with a seemingly random incident. In this case, it is Transfiguration, and Professor McGonagall is in the middle of explaining a particularly fascinating theory. Hermione's focus is divided, though. She just cannot stop worrying about Harry. Her best friend is so tired these days, so burdened by the weight of the world on his shoulders. It was especially noticeable this morning, and Hermione cannot resist glancing at him, just to check on how he is fairing. He looks exhausted. There are dark circles under his eyes, and there is a tight and unhappy set to his mouth, but he is still trying to listen. Good old Harry, she thinks fondly and with a touch of pride. She is just about to turn back to her notes when she catches sight of Malfoy, who sits behind Harry.
He is staring at Harry's back with much concentration, and at first she is worried; nothing good ever comes out of Malfoy paying attention to Harry. Is it possible to curse a person by staring at his back, she wonders. I'll have to look it up in the library later, I remember seeing something about it in "Curses and Hexes for Pranksters"… It takes her a minute to realise that all Malfoy is doing is staring— at Harry's neck, no less. Frowning, she files it away and returns to her parchments, intending to dwell on it later on.
Hermione is nothing if not efficient. And being her usual efficient self, she does what every normal, logical person would do: she starts researching. Much to her surprise (she doesn't like to say discomfort), she discovers a pattern, a chain of seemingly random incidents. Malfoy stares at Harry during meals, which should be normal, really, because he's been doing it for the last six years; but Malfoy doesn't look malicious or scheming. Hermione could cope with that. Malfoy looks thoughtful. Malfoy looks distracted. Malfoy stares and stares and stares, and forgets to eat until Parkinson nudges him back to the realm of the living. He then startles as if he doesn't realise he was staring. He blushes, sometimes. This is something Hermione doesn't understand, and she hates being in the dark about anything, even more so if it has to do with Harry. She continues watching.
Malfoy stares at Harry during classes. Malfoy blushes when they're paired in potions and Harry leans too close. Malfoy gets tongue-tied and flustered around Harry, although only someone as observant as Hermione would see past his cold and confident facade. Malfoy does everything in his power, spits every stupid little jab he has, just to get Harry's attention.
It's ridiculous. It's preposterous. It's completely mind-boggling. It's also so completely and obviously true that Hermione can't comprehend why it took her so long to understand.
Malfoy is completely, utterly, and head over heels infatuated with Harry. And it's just as simple as that.
It's actually sort of sweet, after she gets used to the idea. It's not like Harry would ever return the feeling, of course. It's not like he'll ever even notice the way Malfoy looks at him; he's too much of a boy for that, too oblivious, too thick in this particular aspect of life. He is too wrapped up in his own world and troubles.
Hermione certainly doesn't mind. After all, it only means one more person to protect Harry, and one less enemy for him to kill, when the time comes.
Besides, even though she would never admit it, Hermione was always a bit of a romantic at heart. And impossible love is the most romantic of them all.
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Tell we what you think! Is it good? Is it bad? Is it so-so? Also, I have Hermione, Pansy and Dean written so far, and Ron, Ginny and the giggly twins (Lavender and Paravati) planned, but I really don't know who to write beyond that. So, any ideas? Someone you really want to read? If you do, just say so! Maybe Blaise?
