(A/N: I am back in action for the time being! It's been so long since I wrote a chapter for this fanfiction and since I've noticed the fact that I actually finish about o% of the stories I start, I decided it was time to get moving and start finishing them! :) This chapter introduces a new character, one of the few characters I own in the story. All other characters from the book are not mine. Please enjoy and review!)
Todd walked into charms class. He took a seat by the head Gryffindor girl and gave her a sly smile which she returned with a bright smile of her own. Next to her sat the two boys Todd had noticed with her almost all the time.
"Hello," He managed to say and stuck his hand out for Hermione to shake.
She shook it and asked, "Are you new here? I've never seen you before."
He nodded and let go of her hand. "I am from a wizarding school in the United States called Humphragorts. It's kind of a small and lame school compared to this one."
The boy with the glasses looked at him. It was the first time Todd had noticed the lightning shaped scar on his forehead. "Harry Potter?"
Hermione rolled her eyes slightly and Harry just laughed. "Your name is?"
"I'm Todd,"
"This is Hermione and Ron," He said pointing to each friend as he said their name.
Hermione walked side by side with Todd. Professor McGonagall had given her the rest of the day off to show him around school. She had argued with the professor for a few moments because she didn't want to miss class, but at this moment she was glad Professor McGonagall had insisted. Todd was a lot of fun to talk to and hang out with.
She watched as a few girls walked pass the two of them and look at Hermione enviously. Todd was a tall built boy, his body lean and muscled in all the right places. His hair was light blonde and fell into his tanned face which seem to hold this permanent smirk that Hermione found strangely attractive. He was not only good looking, he was also the most polite boy she had ever met.
"I think they think we are dating or something," Hermione said with an eye roll.
She looked up at Todd who was smiling down on her. "You say that as though it would be a bad thing. I wouldn't mind. I'd actually be delighted to be going out with a girl like you."
Feeling her face heat up, she turned her head away.
"Do you want to hang out this Saturday when we go to Hogsmeade?" He asked.
"I wish I could, but I have trash detail... community service for popping Draco Malfoy in the nose."
Todd didn't say anything for a moment. "Yes... I think he's in my house. He's the kid with the really blonde hair? Those two goons follow him everywhere?"
Shocked, she looked up at him again. He was in Slytherin?
"I could help you out... I don't mind getting dirty." He gave a small wink after this comment.
"We may get really smelly. I heard McGonagall talking about the trash piles and they-"
"It's a date then! And after we get done, we can take our stinky selves and get something to drink."
"It's... a date," She was smiling so hard now.
Kids started filing into the hallway. It was the end of the day and she was due at Snapes office in two hours. "I have to get going Todd. Do you think you can make it back to your room without me? I have detention with Snape and a ton of stuff to get done."
"I believe I can manage. I will see you tomorrow then!"
With that Hermione rushed off to her room. The walk their was marked with thoughts of Todd and how different he seemed then most boys in Hogwarts. She was strangely attracted to him. As she opened the door she spotted Draco sitting on the sofa in the middle of the common room they shared. His gaze fell upon her and he gave her a grin. "Skipping classes?"
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"You missed Potions. Snape was pissed off. You will probably be paying for it in detention."
"I had permission from Professor McGonagall, Malfoy. I was showing the new kid around."
Malfoy scowled. "Todd? That kid doesn't belong in Slytherin. He doesn't have the wit or the guts to be a part of my house."
Hermione ignored him and walked into her room.
Detention was exactly what Draco had imagined... Snape stood in the front of the room and greeted them with a hello and then put them straight to work. He told Malfoy to use magic to clean off each desk separately, twice and each stone on the floor individually. Then he was to go to stones on the wall. Hermione was to clean every bottle in the storeroom by hand.
Hermione went straight to work. Draco waited for Professor Snape to leave and walked quietly to the storeroom. He watch Hermione work for a while before she looked up at him with a look of disdain which he hoped for due to the fact that she was sick of dusting and not that she was sick of him.
"What are you doing?" Her voice was dripping with annoyance.
"Just came over to watch you. I get to use my wand and chant a few words... I should be done in half the time you are."
"Please," She started. "If you are just going to try to make me any more mad than I already am, just let me know so I can be prepared."
Draco just kept watching, smiling as she reached up to the top shelf. She had taken off her robes and wore a pair of torn muggle pants and a plain black shirt that exposed her stomach when she reached up high. She stood on the tips of her toes trying to reach the top shelf, but she was too short.
"Jesus, Draco! If you are just going to stand there watching me at least help me!" She snapped, pulling her arms down and looking at him. "Could you please just tell me what you want?"
Deciding to lend her a hand, Draco pulled down the jars from the top shelf and handed them to her one by one as she dusted and wiped them clean, he then returned them to the shelf. When they were all finished with the top shelf Hermione smiled and mumbled, "Thanks for the help. If I'm done before you I'll come out and help you."
He just shrugged and left the room. Had he been expecting her to just jump him in the storeroom? No. He had expected more then just a barely audible 'thanks' though.
Draco went to work cleaning off every desktop, one by one and then every stone on the floor. In spots where Snape was unlikely to check he started casting spells on several stones at once. By the time he was one the walls, he had decided he hated this damn room with it's gray stoned walls and grimy desks.
Hermione stepped out of the storeroom as if she were waiting for him to finish before she decided to come out.
"Perfect timing..." Draco said smartly. "You could have helped out a little."
"What are you talking about? I just finished and came out to help you."
"Let's just get to McGonagall's,"
Draco saw a look on Hermione's face that was a mix of fear and worry. What was her problem?
"Draco... I'm sorry. I tried to hurry... there are about a thousand or so bottles back there and..." Her voice trailed off, her face went void of all emotions and she pushed right past him. "I don't need to give you any excuses at all!"
She slammed the door as she left the room. Draco followed.
"Hermione!" A voice called as she walked down the hallway where the transfiguration room was. When she looked behind her she saw Draco, but that wasn't who called out her name. Behind Draco, Todd was running towards her, he gave Draco a little nod and caught up to Hermione. "Hey! What are you doing out here?"
"Going to detention." Hermione told him. She tried to hide the fact that she was ashamed to show it.
"Is this for punching him as well?" He nodded back to Draco who was slowly following, scowling as he did.
She smiled. "Yes..."
"If you get done within an hour or so, meet me at the library. I'd like to talk some more!"
"Alright. I don't think I will be, but I'll try."
"Bye," He said as he walked off to a group of students who had started down the hall. He was immediately engrossed into the conversation they were having which made Hermione smile even more. He was already finding new friends.
As she entered the room, Professor McGongall looked up from the work she had been doing and nodded. "I was wondering if Professor Snape would ever let you two out."
Draco walked in and stood behind Hermione.
"I was going to make this a messy punishment, but frankly it's late and I don't feel like sitting here to monitor you and make sure you don't get hurt." McGonagall explained. Hermione thought for a moment what she might have been planning. "Instead I will have the two of you write a thousand times. Hermione, you will write "I will learn to keep my hand and wand to myself as well as learn to get along with others." She pushed up her glasses and looked at Draco. "You will be writing... I will learn how to respect others no matter their stature and learn how to work with others as well."
Hermione nodded. "Will you provide pape-" As she started, the professor had waved her wand causing two stacks of paper and ink to appear.
"I expect you to be done within an hour. You will both have to stay until both are finished. It's part of working in a team, which is the reason you are here." With this she was gone through the door Hermione and Draco had walked in.
The two students sat down. Draco just sat there as Hermione started working.
"What are you doing Malfoy?" She didn't look from her paper or stop writing.
"Nothing. We have all night. I don't see the rush."
"The rush is I'm tired and I want to go to bed!"
He laughed at this and picked up his quill. "Are you sure you don't want to rush to your new boyfriend... toad?"
Hermione shook her head. "You're jealous; aren't you?" She dropped her quill and turned her whole body to him. "And he's not my boyfriend."
"I am not jealous? What would I have to be jealous of? A guy going out with a girl I have no interest in? At stupid fucking mudblood who has no clue about anything?"
Draco watched as Hermione backed away as if she'd been hit. She said nothing but went to writing her lines. She was extremely hurt by what he had said. She wondered why words hurt as much as they did. Especially when they came from someone who she should expect them from.
Todd walked into charms class. He took a seat by the head Gryffindor girl and gave her a sly smile which she returned with a bright smile of her own. Next to her sat the two boys Todd had noticed with her almost all the time.
"Hello," He managed to say and stuck his hand out for Hermione to shake.
She shook it and asked, "Are you new here? I've never seen you before."
He nodded and let go of her hand. "I am from a wizarding school in the United States called Humphragorts. It's kind of a small and lame school compared to this one."
The boy with the glasses looked at him. It was the first time Todd had noticed the lightning shaped scar on his forehead. "Harry Potter?"
Hermione rolled her eyes slightly and Harry just laughed. "Your name is?"
"I'm Todd,"
"This is Hermione and Ron," He said pointing to each friend as he said their name.
Hermione walked side by side with Todd. Professor McGonagall had given her the rest of the day off to show him around school. She had argued with the professor for a few moments because she didn't want to miss class, but at this moment she was glad Professor McGonagall had insisted. Todd was a lot of fun to talk to and hang out with.
She watched as a few girls walked pass the two of them and look at Hermione enviously. Todd was a tall built boy, his body lean and muscled in all the right places. His hair was light blonde and fell into his tanned face which seem to hold this permanent smirk that Hermione found strangely attractive. He was not only good looking, he was also the most polite boy she had ever met.
"I think they think we are dating or something," Hermione said with an eye roll.
She looked up at Todd who was smiling down on her. "You say that as though it would be a bad thing. I wouldn't mind. I'd actually be delighted to be going out with a girl like you."
Feeling her face heat up, she turned her head away.
"Do you want to hang out this Saturday when we go to Hogsmeade?" He asked.
"I wish I could, but I have trash detail... community service for popping Draco Malfoy in the nose."
Todd didn't say anything for a moment. "Yes... I think he's in my house. He's the kid with the really blonde hair? Those two goons follow him everywhere?"
Shocked, she looked up at him again. He was in Slytherin?
"I could help you out... I don't mind getting dirty." He gave a small wink after this comment.
"We may get really smelly. I heard McGonagall talking about the trash piles and they-"
"It's a date then! And after we get done, we can take our stinky selves and get something to drink."
"It's... a date," She was smiling so hard now.
Kids started filing into the hallway. It was the end of the day and she was due at Snapes office in two hours. "I have to get going Todd. Do you think you can make it back to your room without me? I have detention with Snape and a ton of stuff to get done."
"I believe I can manage. I will see you tomorrow then!"
With that Hermione rushed off to her room. The walk their was marked with thoughts of Todd and how different he seemed then most boys in Hogwarts. She was strangely attracted to him. As she opened the door she spotted Draco sitting on the sofa in the middle of the common room they shared. His gaze fell upon her and he gave her a grin. "Skipping classes?"
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"You missed Potions. Snape was pissed off. You will probably be paying for it in detention."
"I had permission from Professor McGonagall, Malfoy. I was showing the new kid around."
Malfoy scowled. "Todd? That kid doesn't belong in Slytherin. He doesn't have the wit or the guts to be a part of my house."
Hermione ignored him and walked into her room.
Detention was exactly what Draco had imagined... Snape stood in the front of the room and greeted them with a hello and then put them straight to work. He told Malfoy to use magic to clean off each desk separately, twice and each stone on the floor individually. Then he was to go to stones on the wall. Hermione was to clean every bottle in the storeroom by hand.
Hermione went straight to work. Draco waited for Professor Snape to leave and walked quietly to the storeroom. He watch Hermione work for a while before she looked up at him with a look of disdain which he hoped for due to the fact that she was sick of dusting and not that she was sick of him.
"What are you doing?" Her voice was dripping with annoyance.
"Just came over to watch you. I get to use my wand and chant a few words... I should be done in half the time you are."
"Please," She started. "If you are just going to try to make me any more mad than I already am, just let me know so I can be prepared."
Draco just kept watching, smiling as she reached up to the top shelf. She had taken off her robes and wore a pair of torn muggle pants and a plain black shirt that exposed her stomach when she reached up high. She stood on the tips of her toes trying to reach the top shelf, but she was too short.
"Jesus, Draco! If you are just going to stand there watching me at least help me!" She snapped, pulling her arms down and looking at him. "Could you please just tell me what you want?"
Deciding to lend her a hand, Draco pulled down the jars from the top shelf and handed them to her one by one as she dusted and wiped them clean, he then returned them to the shelf. When they were all finished with the top shelf Hermione smiled and mumbled, "Thanks for the help. If I'm done before you I'll come out and help you."
He just shrugged and left the room. Had he been expecting her to just jump him in the storeroom? No. He had expected more then just a barely audible 'thanks' though.
Draco went to work cleaning off every desktop, one by one and then every stone on the floor. In spots where Snape was unlikely to check he started casting spells on several stones at once. By the time he was one the walls, he had decided he hated this damn room with it's gray stoned walls and grimy desks.
Hermione stepped out of the storeroom as if she were waiting for him to finish before she decided to come out.
"Perfect timing..." Draco said smartly. "You could have helped out a little."
"What are you talking about? I just finished and came out to help you."
"Let's just get to McGonagall's,"
Draco saw a look on Hermione's face that was a mix of fear and worry. What was her problem?
"Draco... I'm sorry. I tried to hurry... there are about a thousand or so bottles back there and..." Her voice trailed off, her face went void of all emotions and she pushed right past him. "I don't need to give you any excuses at all!"
She slammed the door as she left the room. Draco followed.
"Hermione!" A voice called as she walked down the hallway where the transfiguration room was. When she looked behind her she saw Draco, but that wasn't who called out her name. Behind Draco, Todd was running towards her, he gave Draco a little nod and caught up to Hermione. "Hey! What are you doing out here?"
"Going to detention." Hermione told him. She tried to hide the fact that she was ashamed to show it.
"Is this for punching him as well?" He nodded back to Draco who was slowly following, scowling as he did.
She smiled. "Yes..."
"If you get done within an hour or so, meet me at the library. I'd like to talk some more!"
"Alright. I don't think I will be, but I'll try."
"Bye," He said as he walked off to a group of students who had started down the hall. He was immediately engrossed into the conversation they were having which made Hermione smile even more. He was already finding new friends.
As she entered the room, Professor McGongall looked up from the work she had been doing and nodded. "I was wondering if Professor Snape would ever let you two out."
Draco walked in and stood behind Hermione.
"I was going to make this a messy punishment, but frankly it's late and I don't feel like sitting here to monitor you and make sure you don't get hurt." McGonagall explained. Hermione thought for a moment what she might have been planning. "Instead I will have the two of you write a thousand times. Hermione, you will write "I will learn to keep my hand and wand to myself as well as learn to get along with others." She pushed up her glasses and looked at Draco. "You will be writing... I will learn how to respect others no matter their stature and learn how to work with others as well."
Hermione nodded. "Will you provide pape-" As she started, the professor had waved her wand causing two stacks of paper and ink to appear.
"I expect you to be done within an hour. You will both have to stay until both are finished. It's part of working in a team, which is the reason you are here." With this she was gone through the door Hermione and Draco had walked in.
The two students sat down. Draco just sat there as Hermione started working.
"What are you doing Malfoy?" She didn't look from her paper or stop writing.
"Nothing. We have all night. I don't see the rush."
"The rush is I'm tired and I want to go to bed!"
He laughed at this and picked up his quill. "Are you sure you don't want to rush to your new boyfriend... toad?"
Hermione shook her head. "You're jealous; aren't you?" She dropped her quill and turned her whole body to him. "And he's not my boyfriend."
"I am not jealous? What would I have to be jealous of? A guy going out with a girl I have no interest in? At stupid fucking mudblood who has no clue about anything?"
Draco watched as Hermione backed away as if she'd been hit. She said nothing but went to writing her lines. She was extremely hurt by what he had said. She wondered why words hurt as much as they did. Especially when they came from someone who she should expect them from.