I took a rather long gap from this because I wasn't sure, but I thought I would give it another go. I would very much appreciate any reviews if I should keep going or if you like what I am writing!
Chapter 4: A Date Between The Shelves
Hermione's eyes fluttered open the next morning as the sun beamed down onto her prone body through the gap in her curtains. Hermione took some time to wake fully before she pushed her deep, red sheets back and put her bare foot on her cold stone floor. She paced towards her bay window and looked lovingly at the Hogwarts ground. She felt whole here and like she belonged, forgetting the idiotic teenage boys in her life. She was happy. Hermione moved towards her bed and pulled her wand from underneath her pillow, a past time she had decided to adopt when she discovered she was rooming with Malfoy and conjured a cup of peppermint tea. She knew she could go out and use what they had in the kitchen, but she wasn't quite ready to have her day to hit its first bump if she were to engage in a war of words with Malfoy.
Hermione spent some time mulling over her tea and reading through Hogwarts: A History, her copy was becoming worn and tattered, but she could not bear to part with it until the pages dissolved in her hands. As she heard movement in the common room, she knew it was time to start getting ready for the day. Hermione padded across her room and entered her bathroom to have a shower. She had spent some time working out a routine that had helped her to get in control of her and she wasn't about to stop that now. She knew she was not the prettiest, but her hair was something she could control. Hermione worked through her routine and dressed in her uniform before finally drying her hair with her wand.
As Hermione reached for the handle to her door, she suddenly stopped. Malfoy. Somehow, she had forgotten what had happened between them yesterday. Did they nearly kiss? It had sure seemed that way when he had her pressed against the wall before the boys had knocked. Hermione closed her eyes and thought back to the feeling of Malfoy pressed against her and him looking down at her lips and she realised she wanted him to kiss her. What had changed so abruptly that she could want the man who had bullied for her for years to touch her? Hermione did not know but decided she would keep a firm distance to not allow a lapse in her judgement again. Hermione steeled herself and walked out into the common room. It seemed she did not have to worry as Malfoy was not there. A weird feeling of disappointment washed over her as she picked up her bag from the floor and walked out of the common room.
Hermione picked up her usual pace as she made her way through the castle and to breakfast. She knew how important it was to keep healthy so she would not become ill and miss classes and especially now she had her head girl responsibilities, she had no time to become unwell. Hermione marched her way through the doors into the Great Hall and took a seat at the Gryffindor bench, considering carefully what she wanted before tucking into her cinnamon porridge with berries. Before Hermione tucked in, she looked up as she felt eyes on her and saw Malfoy was watching her carefully. Hermione did not know what to do so settled for a subtle raise of her lips in a smile and turned back to her breakfast. Ginny came and sat opposite her and the two settled into conversation easily. The boys sauntered in not long after and Hermione watched as Ron piled his plate full of sausages and bacon.
Hermione watched on as he shovelled more and more food in his mouth barely taking time to breath before she found herself compelled to say something.
"Ronald, have you perhaps considered ever having some fruit for your breakfast?" Hermione asked, missing Ginny and Harry smirking as they knew it would not take long for her to chastise Ron.
"Why would I want to do that?" Ron responded between bites of food.
"Well, it is good for you and will keep you healthy and would also mean we do not have to watch you scoff your face like this every morning!" Ron scoffed with his mouth full and Hermione continued, "One day, you will listen!" She knew one day he would hear her. The four finished their breakfast and rose together to make their way to class. They parted ways with Ginny at the entrance as she made her way to the dungeons for potions and they all continued high into the castle for their own classes. Hermione had convinced the boys to take Charms with her as she felt it would be useful for their careers and told them just that as they walked to the classroom together.
Hermione walked in through the door and made her way to the front of the room, placed her bag on the floor and took her parchment and quill from her bag, ready to listen. Hermione had learnt throughout her years at Hogwarts with Harry and Ron, nagging in lessons made no difference so she resided herself to sitting at the front and allowing them to do what they wanted. Hermione heard the seat beside her scrape across the floor and felt a warm body settle beside her. She looked up and saw curly locks and a smile that would make other girls swoon. Cormac McLaggen. He was nice enough, but he tried too hard and this irritated Hermione, but she didn't wish to be unkind and always answered any of the questions he may have.
"Good morning Hermione." Hermione sighed, she had hoped her small smile and the Professor entering the room would have meant she didn't have to force a conversation and yet, she was not so lucky. "Good morning Cormac."
"Hermione, I had wondered if you would like to…" Hermione had to stop herself from smiling as Cormac couldn't finish his sentence as the Professor started to talk. Hermione looked down at her notes and added more where she felt it was needed. The time passed quickly and before Hermione knew it, the lesson was over. She packed her things quickly and made her way to the boys, she didn't want to give Cormac the chance to finish the sentence he had started earlier. The trio made their way out of the classroom together and began to walk down the corridor to lunch. Hermione watched Ron frown as they passed a group of Slytherins slouched against the wall and in the middle, her blonde counterpart. Hermione tried to keep walking as to avoid a confrontation between the boys but knew luck had not been on her side recently.
"Granger." Hermione turned as Malfoy drawled her name. He was leant against the wall with his legs crossed and he looked in command of his friends surrounding him.
"Yes? How may I help Malfoy?" Hermione tried her best not to look as though this conversation pained her because she did not want a fight between them so soon after she had been given her new position. "I suppose you have forgotten to organise the prefects schedule as you said you would, we simply must organise a meeting with them so we can ensure the toe rags stay in line. I will not have my authority questioned." Malfoy started and as Hermione made to respond, "You know, we also have to meet for our project on Thursday evening and I will not be carrying you through. I'm sad I must meet with a mudblood but yet, we find ourselves in a partnership once again. Do not be late because I do not like to be kept waiting." Draco spat each and every word out and his gang smirked as they watched Hermione struggle to keep silent. She stood in disbelief as Malfoy continued to berate her as though she were a mere first year, or better yet scum on his shoe. Hermione knew he felt this way but had hoped their headships was a new start. "Malfoy, I am aware of our responsibilities and I am more than on top of them. In fact, I have arranged a meeting with Professor McGonagall to discuss what I have created." Hermione watched in satisfaction when his smile began to falter, and she knew she could not stop there. "I am fully aware of our meeting in the library as it was I who suggested it. I will be there at 6 and you can find me between the shelves at the back of the library. I ask that it is you who is not late." Hermione finished and turned back to Harry and Ron who were fighting to keep their opinions to themselves. She marched past them down the corridor and the boys trailed behind her. In her swift exit, Hermione missed Malfoy utter "touché" under his breath.
Hermione's first week at Hogwarts passed smoothly as she threw herself back into classes and did her very best to avoid Malfoy. Thursday came quicker than she would have liked, and Hermione felt her sorrow worsen when she realised, they had to patrol together the following evening as well. If Malfoy did not behave himself during their study session, she would make quick work to rectify that.
Hermione knew during their exchange she had told Malfoy that she would be in the library for six, but she did not want to give him the satisfaction to be there before her. So, as she walked into the library and into the promised spot, Hermione allowed herself to smile when she saw Malfoy was yet to arrive. Hermione settled into a seat and produced scrolls of parchment, ink and quills before rising from her seat to look for the books they would need to write their essay. Hermione wandered through the aisles ensuring she picked a range of books to support their argument and sent them gradually back to the table she had chosen. Hermione found the final tome she wanted and carried it in her arms back to the table. Hermione gasped in surprise as she saw Malfoy sat at the table, reading through one of the books she had chosen. "I might have known you would arrive early Granger." Malfoy stated as Hermione settled into her seat. "I like to be organised."
"That I can see." Malfoy said as he gestured towards the pile of books Hermione had collected. "I can see why you have chosen this text, but I do not feel this one will be useful as it is far too outdated." Hermione's surprise continued as she noticed Malfoy had made this comment by merely looking at the title of the text. She knew he was not far behind her in classes, but this surprised her. "I thought this might be useful for contrast, but I can see why you would argue that, and this is why I picked up this as I walked back over." Hermione shook the book in hand as she responded to him.
The two engaged in conversation as they began to narrow down the texts Hermione selected and agreed to split the texts to make notes that they could use to form their essay. Hermione could not deny, Malfoy, no Draco was somewhat pleasant to talk to when he wasn't calling her a mudblood, being cruel to her and her friends or trying to impress his cronies. The two fell into a comfortable silence as they worked their way diligently through the pile and Hermione faltered slightly when Draco broke the silence quite abruptly. "Did you solve your boy problem Granger? You seemed quite riled when we discussed it the other day." Hermione had to stop herself gasping as he asked and responded, "I think so, thank you." Hermione looked back at her notes, assuming their conversation would end there. "You need to learn Granger; men work in strange ways when they want something. You will find yourself falling before you know it, if a man plays his cards right and knows what he's doing." Draco stared Hermione in the eyes as he said this, and Hermione found herself in some sort of trance as she looked deep into Draco's silver eyes. They seemed to swirl, and Hermione felt lost in them as she had never been close enough to him to notice. Hermione shook herself, she would not allow herself to be a joke to him. "Well thank you for that insightful advice Malfoy but I think I can learn enough by myself if I should choose to do so." Draco chuckled at this and Hermione felt herself becoming annoyed, she did not understand what she had said that he could possibly think was funny. "Oh Granger, I don't think you'd know what was happening with a man unless it slapped you in the face." He chuckled once more.
Hermione felt her temper begin to rise and could not resist biting back. "Malfoy, I don't know where you get off thinking that I care to hear your advice, but I would like to reassure you that I do not want to hear it, nor do I care!" The two fell back into silence, exchanging comments every few minutes about what they had read. The hours they had spent there had flown quickly and neither pupil had noticed that they had become two of very few remaining.
Hermione closed her final text and noticed Draco had begun packing his things away. "I will put the texts back as I was the one who retrieved them." Hermione stated as she began to pile the texts into her arms. "Granger, are you quite sure you can carry those? Or better yet, use magic?" Draco asked. Hermione found this only made her want to carry them more and prove him wrong as she added another book to her pile and began to move away from their table. Hermione was determined to hurry away from him so he would leave, and they would not have to walk back together and in her hurry, she did not look where she was going and caught her hip on the side of a bookshelf. Hermione gasped in pain and felt the shock of injury rush through her body. She felt the books fall from her arms and she closed her eyes waiting to feel the pain in her head as she hit the floor. But the pain and the floor did not come. Neither did the loud bangs of books landing on the floor. Hermione opened her eyes and saw Draco's grey ones staring back at her.
Draco's arm was wrapped firmly round her waist and Hermione felt that surprise warmth spread over her body where his large hand was spread against her. The books were halted in the air by his magic and she had not hit the floor. He had saved her. Saved her from a rather big headache and damaged books. Neither pupil made an attempt to move as golden eyes and silver eyes began to stare deeply into one another's again. Hermione had the same feeling that she had yesterday and wondered this time would her lips meet Draco's. Was she about to have her first kiss? Hermione stared on in trepidation, unsure what Draco would do next.
Hermione felt herself so lost in Draco's eyes; she had forgotten how she had found herself in this position in the first place. So lost, she did not notice, his grip tighten, as he pulled her properly to her feet but keeping his hands firmly against her waist. The two remained silent as they stared. Hermione felt herself wonder if she could allow herself to kiss a man who had caused her so much pain throughout the years and yet, that pain did not seem to matter in this moment. Hermione watched as Draco's eyes drifted from her eyes to her lips and she felt her breath halt as his head began to descend towards hers.
Hermione could think of nothing but the silver eyes and his lips and she found she had no fight in her.
"Give in Hermione…"
Hermione knew she must as Draco's lips met hers and the two shared a kiss.