Draco and Pansy left the lav, trying to do so with aplomb, although it's really rather difficult, even looking as prim and proper as Slytherins should, to not look like you've been doing something... naughty, when coming out of the lav. At least no one but Longbottom was there to watch, and Draco's glare put the boy in his place, sending him scurrying - actually, right past them. Wait, was he going to be Prefect this year? Of all the lousy pushovers McGonagall could have picked... Oh, and the Mudblood too. Miss "I'm too Perfect" - general all round goodytwoshoes and teacher's pet (well, except for Snape, of course, but nobody expected Snape to like anyone).*
They quickly floated into the frontmost car in the train, and grabbed the last two seats. Unfortunately, Draco Malfoy thought, that meant he was forced to be sitting by Granger. Of all the rotten luck...
Professor McGonagall started to talk... and then Draco stared - not at Granger, who he wanted to pierce with a death glare, but at McGonagall. He could hardly hear what she was saying! Of all the rotten tricks that Granger could have pulled - he didn't want to get in trouble before even getting to Hogwarts!
Calm. Think. Draco's mind was in the air, suddenly seeing the Snitch - free and agile and enjoying the wind. And, as quick as that, he had the spell he needed. Palming his wand, he waved it across his notebook, and then he scribbled a hasty note on a fresh piece of paper, You're going to give me the notes you take on this meeting, before ripping it off and handing it over to Granger, saying in a low voice, "Fine, you can have a piece of paper for notes."
Hermione scanned the paper, her mouth thinning to a straight line, as she wrote back vehemently, and with no care to how large her writing was, And why should I?
Because you're the reason I can't hear in the first place.
That's hardly my fault. You asked for my best silencing spell.
I didn't ask for you to make me DEAF! Take some responsibility and make this right, O Breaker of Eardrums.
You're a right manipulative git, you know that? Granger said, her fingers white around her quill. Good I'm getting to her... Draco thought with some satisfaction.
Well, yes, I thought that was rather obvious. I am in Slytherin, after all.
Harry was almost in Slytherin, and there's not a shred of manipulative cunning in him!
... you probably shouldn't have told me that, you realize? Draco Malfoy wrote back, his face turning towards her in some warped semblance of a sneer. Inside, he felt like grinning. Potter, nearly a Slytherin? It was the sort of juicy gossip that he'd have passed around the common room for a laugh just two years ago. Now, now it looked like he finally, maybe, might just have a chance. After walling away every possible avenue, to see even a dirt road leading away from Voldemort? It was like seeing Elysium itself.
Now Draco just needed to figure out how to take merciless advantage of this one little fact.
Okay, I'll give you the blasted notes! Now shut up and let me pay attention!
*Yes, I'm aware the Gryffindors think of Draco as Snape's pet project. He doesn't think that about his head of house.
[a/n: What? You expected a different reunion?
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