Draco put his trunk in the top rack and sat down across from Hermione. He pulled out a book similar to the one Hermione was reading, thick with small text and a lengthy title. This was a muggle book though. He had been quite enjoying the book and began to continue reading it. Once the train started moving and both Draco and Hermione had settled themselves into the compartment, both with their backs against a wall and feet up on the seats, they looked up to sneak peaks at each other.
Finally they caught each other. Both turned slightly pink and closed their books. "What are you reading?" Draco asked.
Hermione told him, and he smirked. "Oh and what are you reading Mr. I'm-So-Smart?"
Draco lifted the book for her to see. Hermione paused thinking out how to phrase what she was going to say next. "Ummm... you do know that's a muggle book... don't you?"
"Yeah, I know. Someone suggested it to me. Bought in the station at the end of last year, among others, and started it yesterday. It's not bad." Hermione only nodded. They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes and then returned to their books.
At noon the little witch with the food trolley came around. Both Hermione and Draco bought chocolate frogs, pumpkin pasty's and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Both sat eating in quiet and eyeing each other while looking out the window in between. Neither bothered to hide their stares anymore but both didn't know why the other was staring. Finally, tired of the games, Hermione said, "I'm very sorry, but why on Earth are you staring at me?"
Draco shrugged. "Not much else to look at. I could ask you the same question."
"You were staring at me first."
"Oh please don't give me the 'I asked you first' kind of line. When was the last time we used that? When we were... 9?"
"Do you honestly think that you're so great? That you can just do whatever you want and say whatever you want?"
"Of course not. Do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Think that you're so great you can say or do whatever you want? Because the way you, Weasley and Potter traipse around Hogwarts you get the impression of very inflated egos and no regard for rules, or respect for anyone else." Hermione was silenced by these words for quite a while. "That's what I thought," Draco finally said.
"I don't," she finally said quietly.
Draco looked back up from his book. He raised his eyebrows. "You don't what?"
"I don't think that. I know what people think of me. Especially since Harry and Ron got girlfriends. For a while they thought I was a dirty, filthy mudblood slut, but no. Now they think that I'm desperate. That I have something for them. I have never thought of myself as above the rules or better than anyone else. Ever." It was Draco's turn to be silent. After awhile she said, "And obviously you thought like that, too."
These words didn't hit him so hard and he responded quickly. "I didn't. I mean I did, until last year. Then it all started piecing together and I remembered Krum and everything. I knew that you weren't a slut. I think everyone does. You are seriously the most innocent person anyone has ever met. I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know what a blowjob was."
She just looked at him and said, "That's what you think."
"Oh, yeah, cause you've been around the block before," Draco said sarcastically.
"You'd be surprised," she said and turned back to her book. Draco gapped.
He stared for a long time and finally turned back to his book. He couldn't concentrate on it though, all he could think of was that Hermione Granger wasn't nearly as innocent as he had thought. He look up quickly again before returning his blank gaze to his book. She was so beautiful. She looked so natural and pretty and smart. But did she really know what she said she knew? After ten minutes he looked up. She was staring at him with a look of sick amusement on her face. "What are you looking at?" he said coldly.
"This is killing you, isn't it? Not knowing how much I actually know about... how'd you put it? Innocence?"
"Actually, you were staring at me and I couldn't read," he lied through his teeth. He looked at her and coolly said, "But since you brought it up, how far have you gone?"
Hermione smirked at him. "Wouldn't you like to know," she whispered and turned back to her book. She didn't know why she was playing like him like this. She figured it could be because he was so incredibly sexy and he was even sexier when he was confused or upset. Or maybe she wanted him to be the only one who knew, but didn't really know and teasing him like that only added to the belief. She could feel his gaze. He was still staring at her. She smiled and continued reading. This would have him enticed for weeks. She didn't want to come off as a slut, but she needed someone to know, without really knowing, and since she would be living with Draco, he might as well be the one to know. She could play with him, and she was sure he would play with her. It would be innocent teasing.
Outside it was growing dark. Draco noticed and said, "We're almost there."
Hermione looked up. Her eyes lingered on Draco just long enough to tempt him and then looked out the window. She nodded, still looking out the window. Both stood to get out their robes, hats and cloaks. They placed them on their seats and began to dress. Hermione had gone to Madam Malkin's that summer to get robes that fit better, both longer and more fitted. She turned around to see Draco fastening his robes. She had removed her wand from her jeans pocket and now she placed it in the pockets of her robes. Draco did the same.
As their eyes met once again, the lights flickered out and the train jumped forward, throwing Draco backwards onto his seat and Hermione forward on top of him. Hermione tried to stand up, but the train jerked again and she fell back on top of Draco. "What's the matter, Granger? Don't like being on top?"
"Oh, Please."
"What? It's dark and secluded, this is what you've been saying the whole time, isn't it?"
"Get stuffed, Malfoy," she said standing up and brushing herself off. The lights flickered back on and Hermione looked over at Draco. He looked even sexier just sitting there with his hair in his eyes and his robes askew. She looked away and out the window. Hogsmede Station was coming into view. "We'll be there in about 5 minutes," she murmured. In 5 minutes time she would have to explain things to Ron and Harry. Why she didn't tell them and where she was all summer. She grimaced.
Draco didn't know what he was doing but the next thing he knew he was wrapping his arms around Hermione's waist. She looked up at him. She knew that she shouldn't like it, shouldn't like the feeling of his arms around her, but it felt safe and secure. "What's the matter?" he asked her.
She pulled away. "Nothing, I'm coming home. This is where I should be. It's safe and like a second home. I should be excited, shouldn't I? I'm not looking forward to talking to Ron and Harry, that's all."