Disclaimer: Don't own it, blah, blah, blah...
3. An Unusual Exchange
The morning dawned misty and cold with a chilly February breeze. Hermione woke early, as usual; she was a firm believer of the quote "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy and wealthy and wise." She changed into some comfy pants and a tee shirt and did her normal Yoga routine in front of the fire, which had been stocked with more wood during the night. She then did some other exercises, after which taking a quick shower.
Draco, sleepy-eyed with his hair mussed, came down the stairs just as Hermione exited the bathroom, which they shared. She had on jeans and a red sweater with snowflakes; because it was Sunday, the students weren't required to wear their uniforms and robes. Though she hadn't applied any make-up yet, she'd dried her hair with a quick charm her friend, Lavender Brown, who was also a Gryffindor, taught her in 5th year, which was very helpful with her thick locks, then tied it into two braids.
The young man moved past her and went into the bathroom, taking a much longer shower than Hermione. Steam covered the mirror and tinted windows, and he dressed quickly in black jeans and a black turtleneck, then did his hair as usual. He decided to go get some breakfast before his patrol around the grounds and other such Head-Boy duties he needed to attend to.
Hermione had that idea as well, and was just leaving the Great Hall as Draco was coming in. She smiled at him, but he just glared back like he didn't remember their conversation last night. She looked at him with a confused expression but he didn't give her a second glance as he walked to the Slytherin table at the far left.
"Malfoy!" Blaise Zabini called him from the far end of the table, motioning with his hand for Draco to come sit with him.
"Zabini," Draco replied and nodded, then the two friends slapped hands as they sat across from each other and started to eat.
"Joining the living again, are you?" Blaise smirked and pushed chin-length black hair out of icy blue eyes.
"Meaning..." Draco filled up a plate with pancakes and covered them with maple syrup.
"You've either been in classes, the library, or up in your room for the past three days, hardly eating or speaking to anyone," he listed, then grabbed a piece of toast and spread marmalade on it, munching as he waited for an explanation.
Draco shrugged, "I've a lot on my mind. N.E.W.T.'s are coming up, you know." Then he thought to himself, Plus the whole Hermi—no Granger thing... he corrected himself, but I can't let anyone know about that...
"Yeah, I know, but still..." the raven-haired Slytherin shrugged as well, then added somewhat slyly, as if unsure of what Draco's reaction would be, "You've also been watching that Gryffindor Mudblood girl a lot lately."
Draco looked up in surprise. "What?!" he said fiercely.
Blaise held up his hands as if making peace, "Hey, just calling it as I, and several others, see it." He leaned back in his chair, sipping a glass of milk, "She hasn't gotten to you, has she?"
"No," Draco said tersely, standing up, "We merely have a professional, working relationship, it's needed to do what we do, being Head Boy and Girl and all." He said slightly smug at his high position, "Well if you'll excuse me, I've got duties to do," He rolled his eyes, "as usual." And with that he strode out of the Great Hall, wondering if what Blaise had said was true.
"She hasn't gotten to you, has she?" the words echoed through his head. What did Zabini mean by that? And watching her?? Ok, maybe he was a bit more civil to her but never would he truly fall for Hermione Granger. He could pretend to want to get to know her and get along for this stupid project from Dumbledore, but no; Slytherins didn't like Gryffindors! And that was final!