Chapter 2: Irritating the Idiot Duo
Draco didn't know when he started to think for himself. Perhaps it had been during his third year at Hogwarts when Hermione had given him what he'd been asking for and socked him. It was as if after that incident, he had woken up from a listless dream. Little by little, he started to question his father's obsessive loyalty towards Voldemort, which, in turn, led him to question everything his father had taught him. Not that he had taught Draco much at all. Lucius was always busy with one thing or another when he wasn't disciplining Draco for weakness. Out of the three things that Lucius had ingrained into Draco's mind at a very young age, only one still held true.
"Money really can give you everything you would ever want." A wry Pansy held up an expensive yet tacky necklace to Draco. "Can you believe your mother sent me this?"
"Impressive." Draco glanced at the sparkling bauble, "I think this is the most absurd gift yet."
"Really, Draco." Pansy placed the necklace back into it's box, "can't you just tell your mother that a relationship between us isn't going to work out?"
"I've tried," Draco took a bite of breakfast before continuing, "she just claims that I'm too young to understand my own heart," he rolled his eyes "or something along those lines."
"That's a mother for you. They never want their babies to grow up." Pansy's tinkling laugh floated through the great hall, "so is everything ready for the Halloween Ball tonight?"
"Yeah," Draco replied noncommittally as he finished his breakfast, "I just need to go over some things with Granger before the prefects start with the decorations." He stood up from his seat and stretched languidly. "Speaking of which, I should talk to her soon. It's bad enough that I have to spend all evening with her."
"I thought you two were getting along this year," Pansy cocked her head to the side inquisitively, "Weren't you the one who was complaining about why she'd have to grow up to be so pretty?"
"That's only between you and me, Pansy dearest," Draco gave a small smile before leaning down towards her ear, "If other people knew what I really thought about her, my reputation as the Slytherin Prince would be shot." He straightened and brushed away invisible crumbs on his clothes. "Besides, just because I consider her attractive doesn't mean that I like her."
"Is that why you're always so nasty to the Idiot Duo?" Pansy questioned as she grabbed a muffin, "You're jealous of their relationship with Granger!" Draco ruffled Pansy's hair affectionately before he grabbed the muffin out of her hands and stuffed it into her laughing mouth.
"That's so ridiculous that I'm not even going to reply." Draco strolled towards the door, giving a wave to Pansy before he headed towards the library. He figured that there was enough time to finish his Potions assignment before starting his search for Hermione. Besides, she'd most likely be in the library studying for next week's classes.
Draco was extremely annoyed as he trudged up the hill towards the three figures sitting in the grass. Why was Granger never where he predicted her to be?
"… considering how hard it is for both houses to get along, Dumbledore decided that it would be best if we were to attend the Ball together. You know, to set a good example for the rest of the houses."
Judging from the expressions on Potter and Weasley's face, the news of Hermione's escort for the Halloween Ball had been unknown until just a moment ago. Her best friends, it seemed, were against the idea, and completely disgusted by the thought of spending an evening with him.
Surprisingly, he almost felt sorry for Hermione at the moment. Almost. Draco took one last step towards the threesome before opening his mouth.
"Well, isn't this fitting? I say, I never imagined that I'd find filth sitting in the dirt. It suits you Granger, it really does." He saw Hermione jerk in surprise at his voice before she cringed imperceptibly. Somehow, this last action irritated him more than seeing Potter and Weasley leap to their feet at the sound of his voice. He ignored the advancing boys as he continued to insult his date, "If you wanted to roll in the filth you're so akin to, you could have done it in the courtyard instead of all the way out here."
"What's it to you, Malfoy?" Ron glared at the blond, hands flexing as if imagining them wrapped around the Slytherin's neck.
"Was I speaking to you, Weasel?" the irritation within Draco receded a bit as he observed Weasley grow red in the face.
"You'd better watch it," growled Harry.
Draco's irritation disappeared almost completely the way it did every time he got under Potter's skin. How could he upset the two boys even more?
"Just because you're Hermione's date," Draco saw Ron shudder at the words Harry were speaking, "doesn't mean that…"
Sudden inspiration hit Draco as he tuned out the threats Potter and Weasley were making towards him. His brain went into overtime as he put pieces of information into a formula that would infuriate the Idiot Duo.
"Are you two about done yet?" Draco took on an air of boredom as he walked around the seething boys. He crouched down next to Hermione, staring at her intently before she reluctantly looked at him. "I need to go over some last minute details with you for the Halloween Ball," he paused for a moment, "sweet Granger."
"Sweet?" she choked out, staring at him as if he had sprouted a furry tail.
"Indeed," he took her hand and stood her up, snickering inwardly at the growling sounds he heard from Ron, "you smell like the sweetest flower in bloom."
"You're mental!" Ron pushed between the couple, breaking Draco's lingering hold on Hermione's hand, "Hermione's not sweet, and you… you're just trying to get Harry an' me mad!"
"I'm not sweet?" Hermione glared daggers at a flustered Ron who started backing away from her instantly.
"The Weasel obviously has no eyes," Draco sniffed, "you have a smile as sweet as the sugar…"
"Puh-lease," Hermione interrupted, rolling her eyes, "don't think I'm going to fall for something so trite." She sighed, eying the three boys with mistrust.
"Well, come on then." Hermione stomped past Draco towards the Great Hall. "Not sweet, indeed." She snorted as she passed by a deflated Ron.
Draco gave the Idiot Duo a triumphant smirk as he sauntered past them, "I can see why you're so popular with the ladies, Weasley." He nodded to an astonished Harry. "Later, Potter."
Draco was in high spirits as he caught up to Hermione. Knowing that they were still in full view of the Idiot Duo, he slung an arm around Hermione's shoulders. She was so caught up in her annoyance of Ron that she didn't realize whom she was walking with until he pulled her closer to him. Immediately, she pushed him away, whirling to face him just as they reached the doors to Hogwarts.
"Cut it out, Malfoy." She growled, "I don't know what you were trying to pull back there, but if I were you, I'd be really careful, unless you want to find my hands wrapped around your neck." She glowered at him icily, "Or do you want a black eye?"
"Well if I had a choice, what I would really like to find," Draco advanced on Hermione, a predatory gleam in his eyes, "is your arms around my neck."
"Huh?" Hermione's eyes widened in alarm as she started to back away from him slowly before asking cautiously, "is something wrong with you?"
"Of course not," Draco crowded Hermione until her back hit the stone wall, "I just thought that since you're my date tonight, we should get better acquainted."
"Come again?"
Ignoring the incredulous look she was giving him, Draco brushed a wayward curl away from Hermione's face before tracing a finger along her jaw. He marveled at how small she was. He had expected such a fiery and determined personality to be found within a taller and more robust girl. He was bewildered; Hermione shouldn't have felt so delicate and fragile when ensnared in his arms. He shouldn't feel as if he wanted to protect her from everything.
Where were these sudden unfamiliar feelings coming from? Draco fought to maintain control over himself, resisting the temptation to hug her to him and never let go. She was the irritating little know-it-all who didn't know when to keep her mouth shut, for Merlin's-sake!
Oblivious to the inner struggle the boy in front of her was going through, Hermione's breath caught in her chest as he leaned down towards her face. Her eyes closed of their own accord as his lips brushed the shell of her ear, sending unexpected shivers throughout her body before he whispered, "But why would I waste my time on a silly and naive little muggle-born girl like you?"