Disclaimer: I don't own Mr. Potter or any of his little friends.
Sorry I haven't updated for a while – I was on a history trip to Belgium with my school so I haven't had time. Plus, I've had a bit of writers block.
Interruptions
Hermione charged out of the Charms corridor and up to the Head Quarters. After mumbling the password to the Sirens, she clambered through the portrait hole and scanned the common room for any signs of Malfoy. But he wasn't there. He wasn't in his room either, or the bathroom. Then, Hermione saw a little note taped to the gold mirror over the main fire place.
Granger – Meet me in the Library when you get this
Intrigued, Hermione immediately left for the library, not even bothering to pack her stuff for next lesson. As she walked through the darkening corridors, intrigue turned into fright – what did he want to see her about? She wasn't exactly forthcoming to him when she gave him one where it hurts.
But thinking time ran out once she had approached the large oak doors of the library. She had never felt this excited entering a room with hundreds of books before which was strange because books were Hermione's life. Up till now.
"Granger," Malfoy's gruff voice came from the Magical Creatures section. Hermione whirled round to see a very tall blonde boy smirking at her, casually leaning against the bookcase. "Come with me."
Hermione followed Malfoy deeper into the library, shadows of the bookcases cast onto Hermione's slightly worried expression. Then, when all was silent and no-one was around, Malfoy turned to Hermione, smirking in a way that he'd never shown before. He looked at her with a mixture of anger, confusion and something else. Something else indescribable, but whatever it was, it was there.
"What did you want to see me about, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, her voice wavering somewhat, her tone and breathing ever so slightly uneven.
"Granger, what's going on?" Malfoy demanded, angrily, his eyes gleaming with anger and passion.
"What do you mean, Malfoy?" Hermione asked innocently.
"What spell are you using Granger, tell me right now." Malfoy pursued further impatiently.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Malfoy, can I go now?" Hermione replied, very confusedly. Suddenly, her palms were very sweaty and her heart pounded anxiously.
"You know. You MUST know. This isn't just happening, Granger. It's you, and your spells and…"
"Whoa, Malfoy, do you think I've put a spell on you?" Hermione asked, promptly cottoning on to Malfoy's ramblings.
"Of course you've put a spell on me Granger. Why else would this be happening to me?" Malfoy said dejectedly.
"Why else what – what's happening?"
"Hermione! Hey, Hermione!" Ron's little red head poked around the corner suddenly. "Still here? Oh, it's you." Said Ron as he suddenly noticed Malfoy standing with Hermione, and he looked at the blonde boy like he was dirt.
"Yes, it's me Weasel and I was having a discussion with you little mudblood girlfriend here so could you leave us alone you prying piece of trash?" Malfoy lashed out irately.
As if it were an automatic thing, Ron's shaking hand plunged into his robes and he pulled out his wand aiming it at Malfoy's face. "Don't push me Malfoy, don't tempt me to screw up your face, because I will!"
Malfoy rolled his eyes and lazily drew his own wand. "Keep back Weasel, Don't try and mess with me, I'm too quick for you. Don't even try it."
"Furnunculus!" Ron yelled and angry orange sparks flew from his wand tip, but, by annoying co-incidence, ricocheted off a bookcase and right back into his face causing angry boils to pop up everywhere.
Ron fell backwards and grabbed his face, groaning in immense pain.
"RON! Ron, you're going to the Hospital wing NOW! Come on, take my hand!" Hermione yelled, ignoring Malfoy completely and running to Ron's aid. Malfoy guffawed with unsettling laughter as Hermione struggled to help Ron to his feet.
Once in the hospital wing, Ron was immediately taken into Madame Pomfrey's care with large dosages of a steaming yellow medicine. Although Ron's boils seemed to fade slightly and the itching ceased, he looked even more miserable than before.
"You're looking better, Ron. Why so sad?" Hermione inquired gently, adjusting Ron's sheets.
"Malfoy. How could I let this happen again? He always gets the better of me." Ron replied, hanging his head shamefully.
"It was an accident, Ron, you were angry, you weren't concentrating. Forget it." Hermione assured him, giving him a warm smile. "I was flattered that you came to my rescue that way though."
Ron grinned back. "It's the least I could do, Herm." But then his sad little pout returned "I still can't believe he made a fool out of me in front of you again."
"What do you mean – again?"
"2nd year, the slugs, remember? I was so humiliated and all I wanted to do was to make you think I was brave and not as loser like he's always making out." Ron looked up at Hermione – his expression was so pathetic, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"Oh, Ron! No matter how wrong your attempts to bring Malfoy down for me go, I'll never think you're a loser! You're one of my best friends!" Hermione said, encouragingly putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Hermione, you don't know how much-" Ron began but was interrupted by someone bursting into the Hospital wing.
"RON! What happened? Was it Malfoy? Oh, hey Hermione, you might have told me he was here!" Harry bellowed as he rushed up to Ron's bedside.
"Mr. Potter! You will not disturb Mr. Weasley, he's trying to heal! He'll only have ONE visitor at a time please!" Madame Pomfrey roared making Harry flinch and take a couple of steps back.
"It's ok, Madame Pomfrey, I'll leave so Harry can see Ron." Hermione said, looking back at Ron who seemed thoroughly irritated at being disturbed when he was trying to tell her something. "Ron, we'll talk later when you get out of here, Ok? Take care! Bye boys. Calm down Harry!"
Hermione left the Hospital wing, burning with anger at Malfoy. Her fists curled into familiarly angry positions at her sides, her face was flushed and her eyes burned harshly.
"How's dear Weasel? Getting his nose re-attached? Shame they cant do the same for his brain, eh, Granger?" A cool sneering voice came from behind Hermione. Hermione knew exactly who it was.
"Don't you ever say that about Ron! He only did that to help me out – it was bravery – and you made fun of him! Not that I expected anything else out of someone like you. You haven't one brave bone in your body – that's why you're in Slytherin isn't it? Cowardice." Hermione lashed out, her whole body shaking with fury.
"Cowardice? You're joking, I'm not cowardly. I can hold a wand straight and hex properly, unlike your boyfriend, Weasel." Draco sneered, wrinkling up his nose, smirk fading from his features.
"Yes, cowardice, Malfoy. Pointing a wand doesn't make you a hero! Don't you understand? You've probably never helped anyone else out in your life!" Hermione snapped, cutting Draco deeper than she realised.
"You don't know anything about me Granger so don't pretend like you do, Okay?" Draco suddenly became very adamant and for the first time, Hermione realised he was only human when she heard the passion in his voice.
As Draco turned to leave her presence something suddenly came over her.
"Malfoy! Malfoy, wait, what was it you wanted to ask me earlier? About the spells or something?" Hermione asked him, and he turned to face her, an earnest expression on his pale features.
"I don't want to talk anymore, Granger. Go back to your boyfriends." Malfoy said coldly, towering over Hermione intimidating, she trembled slightly under his glare, but turned on her heel deciding not to make a reply.
That evening, Malfoy didn't return to the Head Quarters while Hermione was up. She wanted so badly to find out what was going through his head but as the large grandfather clock on the corner of the common room struck 2, Hermione gave up waiting and went to bed.
Ten minutes later, Draco entered the common room looking considerably ruffled. As he ran his hand through his messed up hair he swore quietly to himself. In his head he couldn't quite make out why he'd taken such an interest in Granger this year, why he couldn't stop staring. All he knew was that it wasn't just sadistic. In his head he couldn't make it out at all. In his heart, something was telling him a different story. But Malfoys don't listen to their hearts.