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Expressing Concern, Expressing Hatred
The next morning a strong gale battered the castle and torrents of rain poured from the wide-open skies. Dragging herself out of the warm comfort of her bed, Hermione got up and put on her school robes looking extremely dishevelled. She had NOT had a good night's sleep after the events the previous night, and immediately tried to eradicate all thoughts of Draco Malfoy from her mind.
Malfoy, however, spent his morning as he always did; awakening early and doing some morning push ups before laying his regal four-poster and getting dressed. He had slept like a baby, and, as he thought of the night before, a nasty smirk formed on his features.
Once she was dressed, Hermione tentatively poked her head out of her bed chamber, checking the common room for any signs of the sneering blonde. When she'd established the coast was clear, she grabbed her school bag and darted out of the room before practically diving though the portrait.
"Watch it there, we were sleeping!" Shouted the indignant Sirens in a melodic way.
Hermione didn't pause for apologies as she charged down the stairs, determined to avoid Malfoy. How could he know what had been going on in her head over the past few months? Nobody, least Malfoy, should be allowed to have that power of perception. The hate she felt for him consumed her body and made her boil and tremble.
When she got to the Great Hall and saw the smiles and waves from her friends and fellow Gryffindors a warm wave of relief washed over her. All thoughts of Malfoy flew out the window as she took her seat between Ron and Harry as they devoured a breakfast of kippers, French toast, fried eggs, sausages, black pudding and sherbet lemons.
"You alrigh' 'Ermione?" Asked Ron though a mouthful of toast, spattering Hermione with crumbs.
"I'm fine, didn't sleep well last night." Hermione replied putting a convincing smile on her face as she wiped of toast crumbs from her robe sleeve.
"Malfoy's not up to anything? Not giving you a hard time? If he is, tell us Herm, Ok?" Said Harry, before Ron could splatter Hermione with breakfast again.
"It's Hogsmeade weekend on Saturday! Want to come with me and Harry, Herm?" Ron asked after swallowing a large mouthful of sausage and egg.
"Yeah, sounds great…" Hermione replied and was about to ask if they would consider handing out S.P.E.W leaflets in Hogsmeade when her happy, sparkling hazel eyes met with fiery grey ones. Her breath caught in her throat, and she tore her eyes away from his, getting up from the table.
"Where are you going? You only just sat down! Walk with us to Charms, Hermione!" Harry asked with a very confused expression on his face as Hermione began to gather up her things.
"I'm sorry Harry, Ron, I want to get something I left in the Library last night, and I'll see you both in Charms Ok? I'm really sorry – bye!" Hermione grabbed as piece of toast and marched out of the Hall, away from those X-ray grey eyes.
Once she'd got into the corridor outside the Hall, she flopped back against the stone wall, breathing heavily. Nowadays, she couldn't seem to have a conversation with Harry and Ron without Draco interrupting with his ever seeing eyes. How she despised him and what he constantly did to her, incessantly putting thoughts in her head.
"Granger. Hey Granger!" A familiar voice was calling to her. Hermione's eyes snapped open and she immediately turned from the voice and advanced rapidly down the corridor.
"Wait! Slow down, Granger, why'd you leave your two boyfriends behind? Come on, Mudblood, is the big bad Slytherin getting to you?" Malfoy sneered, grabbing Hermione by the shoulder.
"That's IT, Malfoy, you crossed the line." Hermione whirled round to face him, her face burning with electricity, her fists rolled into balls.
Malfoy chuckled, a low, hollow chuckle. "Going to hit me, again Granger? That'll show me, wont it? I'm sure even you don't doubt that that plan would never work." Malfoy sneered disparagingly, pushing Hermione's defensive little fists down to her sides with his large, Quidditch weathered hands.
"Why are you doing this?" Hermione demanded, tears or hatred and anger welling in her eyes slightly, her whole body stiffening at Malfoy's touch.
Malfoy smirked in a condescending manner. "You don't know? You can't work it out? The poor lost little mudblo-" Malfoy didn't finish his sentence as Hermione raised her hand to slap him hard, but Malfoy was too quick for her and caught her hand deftly before it did any damage. A crease formed on his forehead, his grey eyes sparked dangerously and he grabbed Hermione by the shoulders, starting to push her back against a wall, for the second time. And for the second time, Hermione trembled violently in his grip, her eyes darting up and down the corridor, praying that someone would come and save her.
Malfoy put his mouth next to her ear and hissed "No-one's coming to save you. It's just me and you here now. Breakfast doesn't end for another 5 minutes. So tell me Granger, an evil Slytherin has you up against a wall. What do you do? What – do – you – do?" Malfoy sounded out his last words slowly and dangerously. Hermione felt adrenaline pumping though her veins, and a jolt of energy surged down her spine as she glared back into his eyes.
Then, Hermione did something Malfoy wasn't expecting.
Up went her knee to Malfoy's crown jewels.
Down went Malfoy.
"Never. Mess. With. Me. Again. You. Worthless. Ferret." Threatened Hermione, her breathing ragged and quick, her heart beating so loudly she was afraid Malfoy could hear how scared she was. And then she ran, thoughts, confused feelings, and crazy theories whirling around her brain and yet she only seemed to come out with one question. Why?
When she arrived in Charms, she was still shaking all over. Harry and Ron came to sit with her and she distantly acknowledged them. Her thoughts were clouded with Malfoy's face, her ears were plagued with his voice, his strong scent of cinnamon besieged her senses. Never before had Hermione felt excited like this. Whether she hated Malfoy or not was not an issue, he was the only person who had ever made her feel this way.
And unlike before, she wanted to hold onto this feeling more than anything. Just thinking about Malfoy lying on the floor clutching himself in agony made Hermione smirk. Just thinking about Malfoy made Hermione's heart pound.
"Miss Granger, could you tell the class how to perform a Heating Charm?" Professor Flitwick squeaked.
Suddenly Hermione fell back down to earth.
"Wha-? Heating…erm, Incendio?" Hermione spluttered, her face flushed, ashamed at herself.
"Correct. Listen more carefully to my lessons in the future, Miss Granger, you were lucky this time." Professor Flitwick advised, and carried on with the lesson.
"What IS going on with you, Hermione? Don't lie to us anymore, there's something wrong we can tell." Harry asked, worry plastered all over his face.
"Yeah, you don't seem yourself recently, Herm. We miss you." Ron appealed to her, his green eyes sparkling concernedly.
"It's nothing, I've just had a couple of rough nights, and can we drop this please? Look, you two, I'll make it up to you this weekend at Hogsmeade, I'll be fine in no time. See you later; I'm off to my room to get some stuff." This, of course, was a lie. Hermione was off to seek out Draco Malfoy.