So... two entire reviews, thanks guys! Well, I wrote more anyway, because I was itching to write it. I hope some of you at least enjoy :P
"Mr Malfoy, can you tell why Mr. Potter did this spell incorrectly," McGonagall barked early one morning in transfiguration, jolting the blond out of his momentary lapse of the unconscious.
"Because he's a fucking dumbass maybe?" Draco replied lazily, staring at the professor without a trace of a smirk. Harry paled and glared at Draco, while McGonagall turned a bright shade of red.
"I will not tolerate such language, 30 points from Slytherin," she said angrily, though he was unphased.
"I don't see why you need to take your anger out on me just because you're a hard-ass bitch who hasn't been laid in about a century," he said simply, still not with any trace of amusement, though paying a lot of attention to his quill. A few Slytherins snickered but were silenced at the look on the teacher's face. It held the utmost of loathing directed at Draco, who didn't so much as flinch.
"100 points, Mr. Malfoy. And 2 weeks of detention," she said calmly, trying to compose herself and failing badly, sounding like a strangled child.
"Fuck that," he muttered and packed his books into his bag before leaving the classroom, still retaining his usual grace. The entire class watched him go, without so much as a word. Hermione looked behind herself and noticed Sally-Anne paying no attention whatsoever; she was merely scribbling on a piece of parchment.
McGonagall resumed the class, though she was now so angry that she gave up and let them out early. As Hermione was walking, Sally-Anne caught up with her in the hallway.
"Do you know what's been going on with Draco lately?" she asked Hermione quietly. Hermione shook her head.
"I have nothing to do with him anymore, I wouldn't have talked to him. Why, did something happen?" She asked, hardly allowing herself to be curious. "Other than what just happened in class," she added as an after thought.
The other girl shrugged. "He's just been ignoring me lately, and he won't tell me anything," she said, not seeming to care very badly. More as if he were a mere pastime that she had given up. "Do you... do you think maybe you could possibly talk to him, Hermione?" she asked timidly and Hermione stopped in her tracks.
"I'm sorry, I don't think that would be any good," she replied politely, implying that she wouldn't like to be questioned further on the topic.
"Please, I know he'll talk to you," she continued, still seeming to understand the truth to her words.
"What else do you know about the two of us, precisely?" Hermione asked slowly.
"I know you were good friends, I just want to know what's wrong," she said sadly, and Hermione sighed.
"Fine, I'll ask him for you, if I see him," she muttered, and the other girl grinned widely, thanking her.
Grumbling, Hermione continued on her way to the common room, hoping against all reason that he wouldn't be there. She really tried to tell herself that, at least.
As the portrait swung open and she saw his familiar blond head, she shut her eyes tightly, willing him to disappear.
She walked quickly to the fire and sat down in one of the armchairs, wondering how to begin the conversation when he spoke.
"Class isn't out yet," he noted quietly.
"She let us go early," Hermione replied, not wanting to go into detail.
"Fucking bitch had it coming to her, you know?" he said with a smirk, one she hadn't seen aimed at her for quite some time. Hermione didn't answer.
"What's going on with you? You're usually so calm," she said quickly, wanting to be over with this situation as fast as she could.
"That, Granger," he said, digging through his bag for a stack of parchment, "is none of your business," he said, though not as cold as she might have expected.
"Of course it isn't. It is, however, the business of Sally-Anne, who forced me into asking you," she said formally.
"It isn't her business either," he said coldly.
"She's just worried about you Malfoy, at least have some common courtesy," she muttered, and he locked eyes with her for the first time in what felt like ages. They flashed and she braced herself for his reply, looking away from him.
"You're right, Granger. I honestly don't give a damn about who knows anything anymore, tell the world if you please," he muttered sarcastically, frowning.
"Tell her it's my father, she'll understand," he said simply after a long while. Hermione nodded, not wanting to question him further about what was probably a tense subject already. "Actually," he said quickly, pulling his arithmancy text out of his bag as well, and sitting down near the fire with it, "don't tell her anything now. Tell her I'll talk to her, if you see her that is," he said clearly, looking at her as if she were a business acquaintance, not a very questionable peer.
He didn't speak another word, just took out a quill and ink and set to work on his math. Only after watching him struggle with a certain question did she say "seven" softly, and he gave a short nod of gratitude.
She watched the fire for a moment before she noticed him looking at her. He gave a quick half smile, fading almost instantly, as if to say, 'so; what next?'
Hermione was confused beyond belief and so she watched him, not speaking, deep in thought. She was sure he hated her, until only moments ago, when his glance had given her belief that something was still there. Hiding deep back between the barriers cleverly constructed around both of their clever minds.
After some time of silence he straightened, slamming his quill down, and stared around the room for a moment.
"I think I'm gonna get out of here," he told her, and she looked at him curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, to get out of here. Away from Hogwarts, from the Death Eaters, from the war," he said calmly and her eyes widened.
"Why would you do that?" She asked incredulously.
He shrugged. "For a change I guess."
"Where would you go?" she asked, genuinely interested at his sudden decision.
"I guess I'd fly off the grounds then apparate somewhere. See, that's the power of magic," he muttered, grinning. "There's supposed to be several magical communities around America."
He stood, and Hermione jumped to her feet.
"What, now?" she asked.
"Why not now?"
"It's just so... sudden," she muttered, staring at him.
"Granger, that's the trouble with you. You expect everything to fall into place, without making any decisions. You said you wanted to loosen up, but you don't seem to be doing anything to help that," he said sadly, watching her. "If you take big risks someday they might just turn out to help you. And if you don't... well then you'll never know, right?"
She didn't know what to say, she just nodded mutely, staring into the floor.
"Granger, I'm not running away, you know? I'll come back some day," he said softly, still staring intently at her.
"Will you graduate?" she asked softly. He shrugged. He ran up the stairs, coming back a minute later with his broom and his wand, tucking his Gringotts key into the pocket of his jeans.
"So... you coming?" he asked, throwing Hermione off guard entirely. Not only the fact that he would ask her, but that he would ask her.
"I can't leave, Malfoy," she said simply, staring at her.
"Sure you can, you've been waiting for something like this, I can tell," he grinned.
"Not something like this," she felt her eyes tearing up and directed her burning gaze into the soft carpet. He laughed softly to himself, looking out the window, into the freedom of the outdoors.
"It's going to be cold," he stated. "Granger, I know things haven't been great. But I'm glad to see you rebuilding your life, and it is better. You're back to your old self again. And you understand; I know you do," he spoke quietly, even though the room was large and they were far apart. "And if you change your mind," he grinned again. "I know you won't, but the school owls are quite accurate on the worst of days." She nodded quietly, letting a single tear run down her cheek, and it dropped off into the carpet.
"As crazy as it is, after everything, I'm gonna miss you," she said, choking back a tear and allowing herself to smile. He laughed, and tossing his broom onto the couch, wrapped his arms around her smaller frame. Forgetting everything he had said to her in the past months, she wrapped her own around him, and closed her eyes tightly.
"I'll miss you too. Your crazy fits and rabid homework scheduling, and all that," he said and she laughed.
"Give Sal my regards," he muttered and Hermione noticed her didn't seem to care all that much. She nodded, feeling colder than she had before after separating from him.
He walked over to the balcony with his broom in hand once more, and she followed; they stared into the darkness and the great space between the window and the ground. And the edge of the sun was visible at the horizon, quickly allowing the moon to take over the long winter nights.
"Not going to stay for dinner?" she asked, and he shook his head.
"I'll find something," he muttered, and she was tempted to laugh.
"See you, then," he told her, opening the door and a great gust of wind came through that made them both shiver. "Give immorality a chance for me, will you?" he grinned.
"As long as you owl me," she said, biting her lip to keep from crying. He nodded sincerely.
"You know, I've always wanted to try this," he said grinning, as he launched himself off the railing, broom still in his hand, and Hermione's eyes widened until she saw him swoop back up seconds later and give her a kind of salute, as he flew off.