Reviews given were much appreciated! If there are any constructive things you'd like to suggest, please tell me, I want to make this as good as I can.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter –if I did why would I be writing on a FanFic site?
Trembling
September soon morphed into October and a light frost had begun to settle on the castle grounds as 7th year students trudged down to Hagrid's hut for a lesson.
"Alrigh' you lot? I got a grand lesson for yeh all!" Hagrid said proudly, beaming around at the class and winking surreptitiously at Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"That'll be the day," Malfoy said spitefully under his breath to Crabbe and they both snorted with coarse laughter. Hermione gave Malfoy a withering look, and wondered why she had ever felt any exhilaration when he looked at her with those stupid, cold, unfeeling grey eyes.
Ignoring the two Slytherins, Hagrid continued, his high spirits slightly dampened. Going into a woodshed near his hut, Hagrid came out with a beautifully odd looking creature in his wake. It had the body of a large, jet black goat and had two dazzling emerald green wings either side of its stout torso.
The class were stunned and looked appreciatively at the stunning animal in front of them. As if it were enjoying the attention, it spread its wings proudly revealing some bright red feathers under its wing.
"This 'ere is Paxton. 'E's a Peryton, one of the last of his kind 'round these parts, beautiful creature ain't 'e? Does anyone 'ere know anything 'bout Perytons?" Hagrid asked while fondly patting Paxton's glossy fur.
To no-one's surprise, Hermione's hand shot up.
"Perytons were originally from Atlantis They would fly in flocks, and attack sailors near the Strait of Gibraltar. They are half Goat half Eagle but they cast the shadow of a man Their wings are so big and beautiful because, like Peacocks, this is kinda how they attract mates." Hermione recited fluently. As was custom, she'd practically eaten her textbook.
"Damn righ' Hermione! 5 points to Gryffindor fer knowin' yeh stuff!" Hagrid beamed. Then he took a large flashlight out of his moleskin jacket. "I'm gonna show yeh the shadow a Peryton casts – does it to scare away predators, see?" Hagrid turned on the flashlight revealing the truly bizarre shadow the Peryton cast.
For Hagrid's standards, this was definitely one of his best lessons, but Hermione couldn't concentrate. She knew he was staring again, she could feel it as if a hot light bulb had been turned on in the back of her mind. A familiar shiver surged down her spine and she shuddered automatically, doing everything in her power to stop herself from meeting Malfoy's stare.
"What's wrong Hermione – you cold?" Ron inquired caringly. Hermione nodded, she didn't want to have to explain herself to him. "Poor Herm, it is kinda cold out here, come here." Ron put his arm around Hermione's shoulders kindly. Harry raised an eyebrow at them slightly, a cheeky little smirk on his face.
An enormous mocking whoop came from behind Ron and Hermione.
"Weasel and the Bush woman have finally hooked up! Give her a kiss Weasel, we all know you're gagging for it, but careful, you might get a mouthful of frizz!" Pansy Parkinson hissed her voice full of derisive laughter. A lot of the Slytherins burst out in laughter at this, but Malfoy's eyes narrowed, his grey eyes turning an inky black colour.
"Quiet thar, yeh at the back! Yeh're disturbin' Paxton!" Hagrid yelled at the Slytherins. Ron quickly removed his arm from Hermione's shoulders, his ears, and the whole of his face for that matter, was burning red.
"Don't worry about it Ron just ignore them." Hermione said, making a rude hand gesture at Pansy. She couldn't help but notice the absence of Malfoy's usual derisive snort of laughter from amongst the Slytherins, and it made her shiver even more. What was WITH him?
"I'm so sorry Herm! I just didn't want you to be cold!" Ron apologised again and again once the lesson had finished.
"Don't worry about it Ron! Ignore those Slytherins; they don't know the first thing about being a friend." Hermione assured him slightly exasperatedly.
"Yeah…friends…" Ron repeated, somewhat wistfully. At this Harry sighed and rolled his eyes at them. Why hadn't they gotten together – there was obviously some chemistry there, he thought to himself.
That evening, after a very heavy dinner in the Great Hall, Hermione traipsed up the pearly staircase towards her and Malfoy's Quarters. On reaching the portrait of the Sirens, there was a note stuck up with Spellotape on the frame.
Head's Patrol of the potions corridors and dungeons this evening, 10-12pm. Please co-operate, don't go alone, I will not have my students wandering the corridors solitarily.
Professor M. McGonagall.
"What's that, Granger? Love letter from Weasel?" Malfoy asked sarcastically, with a touch of bitterness in his tone.
"We have to patrol the corridors together tonight." Hermione said in disgust thrusting the note at Malfoy.
A large grandfather clock with two golden cherubs on the face struck 10, and 10 loud bongs echoed through the corridor.
"We should be going now then." Hermione stated simply after the 10th clang.
"Duh. I could have told you that Granger, honestly…" Malfoy retorted scornfully.
Hermione rolled her eyes and started towards the staircase, Malfoy close in her wake. On their way down to the dungeons, they barely spoke or looked at each other at all. All that could be heard was the pattering of Hermione's light feet and the sharp tap of Malfoy's purposeful stride. Hermione had to jog to keep up with his enormous strides.
"Would you slow down? We're not in a bloody hurry, Malfoy." Hermione called to him breathlessly, clutching a stitch.
"It's called fitness, mudblood, you should try it sometime." Malfoy barked disdainfully.
Regaining her breath immediately, Hermione burned with anger at the mention of her parentage. She ran to catch him up and grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to face her, hazel eyes clashing with grey as they met.
"Don't you EVER. You evil…you cruel ferret! What makes you better than me? What gives you the right to taunt me?" Hermione spouted furiously, a furnace burning in her eyes, her cheeks flushed in rage.
Malfoy chuckled knowingly. "Nothing gives me more pleasure, Granger. Nothing."
"What do you mean Malfoy?" Hermione asked, shuddering obviously at his twisted reply. Malfoy noticed this shudder and smirked in a very satisfied manner.
"I mean, knowing the reason you're angry is because of me, gives me immense pleasure. I make you feel differently to how other men do, don't I Granger? Don't I?" Hermione shook her head her eyebrows narrowing dangerously as she opened her mouth to reply. "Don't say I don't Granger. I see it when you look at me."
"You're the one who stares at me all the time Malfoy!"
"I see you're response Granger. I can see you're exhilarated by it. And most afraid that you might just have a desire for more than just knowledge. Something you, for once, cannot control."
"I'm not afraid of you, Malfoy."
Malfoy closed the space between him and Hermione, a nasty smile on his face. Hermione tried to draw herself up and make herself look less intimidated than she was.
Malfoy began to push her backwards up to the grey stone wall behind her, never once breaking intense eye contact with her. Hermione tried to push him back but his strong arms firmly pinned her in place his eyes never moving from her trembling features.
"You sure about that? Maybe you're not afraid. But I know you feel exhilarated, a rush of excitement courses through you, every time our eyes meet. Can you feel it Granger?" Malfoy growled sinisterly, the smile leaving his face, his eyes burning with more passion that she'd ever seen, and for the first time, she was terrified of him.
"Let go Malfoy, you know nothing about me." Hermione replied trying to sound smooth and in control, but also fully aware of her trembling lips. Her eyes broke contact with Malfoy's; she couldn't stand the fire burning in them. How did he know so much?
"I said LET GO! Why can't you just leave me alone? Why do you incessantly target me with your stupid mind games?" Hermione cried out.
"Like I said, I like to see you squirm Granger." Malfoy stated, smirking satirically. He relinquished his grip and swept down the corridor. "Keep up Granger."
Hermione shook herself and smoothed down her skirt and shirt, still trembling. He was right. As much as she was scared, she was excited by this. And as much as she hated to admit it, a man had never made Hermione feel this way before – and she liked it. Heavens above, it was freedom.