Here's the Draco chapter. I'm starting to get worried at the pace of this story because, though much has happened, I'm realizing that, chronologically, basically about two days have transpired since it all started. Um... just some food for thought I guess. Add any suggestions in the reviews! OH! And I'm starting to think that Zabini might need a romantic interest at some point, though he might just be fun the eternal bohemian single man. Tell me what you think! Anyway, thanks for all your reviews and ENJOY!
Draco's Point of View
"You can't glare at me forever" remarked Zabini from across the dinner table, unaffected by the piercing death stares his best friend was sending his way.
"Try me..." retorted the blond boy tartly, blaming all the events of the day on the boy before him. Of course, he had welcomed the ground breaking news that Hermione Granger, the brains of the Golden Trio, not only stood up for him but believed in his word enough to not questions his assertion that he was, in fact, not a death eater. This did not, however, discount the fact that he'd been forced to completely loose his normal cool by pacing, rambling, and downright breaking down in front of a muggle born. And that was all entirely and solely Blaise's fault.
"Oh no Malfoy!" warned Zabini, as if reading the thoughts that were coming across all too clearly through the glare. "You are not blaming this one on me. I'll admit that my taunts might have irked you into eavesdropping which, by the way, is good to hear since my teasing isn't half as effective on you as I'd want it to be. This does not mean, however, that I forced you to eavesdrop. You got into that lil mess all on yourself, so don't try to pretend my 'peer pressure' forced ya. A lifetime of ignoring my good advice and you finally listen when I'm teasing?"
"Can it Blaise!" snarled the Prince of Slytherin, not the least bit amused by the use of reason against him. He both loved and loathed his friend's ability to put everything into perspective and, quite ungently, slam him back into reality.
"If you ask me" continued the clearly better natured of the two Slytherins, ignoring the previous command, only to be interrupted by Malfoy.
"No one asked you". But he said nothing else so Blaise continued:
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, you should make the most out of this. Play the pity card and get the best lay of the year..." he ignored Draco's gagging noises. "Or allow yourself to be a little more civil than you had originally intended and perhaps have a slightly better year than you could have imagined". Not bothering to reply, the blond boy stood up and left towards his common room, in hopes of clearing his head before he went to sleep. Luck has it, he entered to find Granger cuddled up in the sofa, with the quilt she'd used to cover him. She was slightly slouched forward, legs crossed, her hair falling over her face as she huddled over a book.
'She looks so childlike' he allowed himself, trying hard not to laugh at her teddy bear pajamas. She eventually looked up and smiled at him before returning to her book. Taking out a quill and parchment from his bag, he decided to settled down on a nearby chair. But first, he went over to the coffee table and, bracing himself, did a rather poor attempt to pull the ridiculously heavy piece of furniture towards the chair in hopes of using it as support. He stopped as she burst out laughing as he struggled with the table that would simply not budge. He frowned at her which only caused her to laugh ever harder.
"For a witch Malfoy, you sure miss the obvious solution" she commented before adding a whispered 'wingardium-leviosa'. Two seconds later, the table had levitated across the room to where he'd wanted it.
"I just wanted you to do it for me" he retorted, allowing himself a small grin as his quick thinking.
"So that's why you were trying so hard to move it by hand? So I would move it?" she questioned without missing a beat which made him grin even wider.
"For someone who was reading, you spared me a lot of your time to observe me. Can't keep your eyes off me Granger?" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively in a very Zabini-esque gesture.
"You got me there" she replied with more than a tad bit of sarcasm. "There Malfoy, I admit it. The shine in your hair just keeps catching my eye. I just couldn't help it if it serves as a walking reflector"
"Touché Granger." he admitted. "I too would stare at such a gorgeous mass of golden locks". She finally burst out laughing ad he graced her with a genuine smile. 'I can't believe I managed to pull that line off with a straight face', he thought to himself 'I must be spending too much time with Blaise'.
"This is ... nice" she finally managed. "Same insults, no sting, no malice. They seem... friendly. I could grow used to this".
"Don't get too used to it Granger" he warned with an arrogant look. "There has to be enough of me for everyone". She laughed again, her eyes twinkling and he couldn't help but think: 'Merlin! How I could grow used to that laugh!'.
"Far be it from me to deprive anyone of your lovely presence". With that, she smiled at him one last time, and turned back to her book. He was surprised to feel disappointed that their conversation was over. 'Has it really been that long since I've been this comfortable with anyone who wasn't Blaise that I'm disappointed?' He shook his head, frowning. 'Malfoy, you need to get out more often!' Leaving it at that, he stood up, packed up his belongings, and turned towards his room, ignoring the fact that he never used the coffee table that had provoked the entire exchange.
"Good night Draco" she called out after him, which shocked him still. 'Did she just?' He stared back at her for a moment but her face was glued to the book before her. He did notice, however, a growing blush and shy smile that he doubted had been caused by the book, which led him to believe that he might just have heard right. Hermione Granger had just called him by his first name and, what was infinitely more surprising, he liked it. Continuing to his room, he too called out:
"Good night Hermione".
Author's note:
One more thing! I was told that I've apparently made a few mistakes of subject verb agreement in number... really sorry about that! I'll make sure to go back when I have time to review any mistakes I can spot! But like my profile to say, as much as I prefer to write in English, it isn't my first language so mistakes will happen. Sorry! Thanks for all your support though! D
