"Five points from Gryffindor for Miss Granger's tardiness."
By the time she had reached Arithmancy, she was over five minutes late; with a huff Hermione placed her books on the first available spot. Sitting down she turned to face her desk mate and found Nott, who was staring at her with confusion in his eyes. After their chat he assumed she would keep her distance, not take to sitting with him. Hermione, however, thought nothing of it. When she looked around the room, she found that the seats that remained vacant were all on the right side of the desk; being left-handed sitting down where she had was the only feasible option. Hermione was irritated by how quickly Nott had gotten to class; after all, he had left only a few seconds before she did and yet at no point had their paths crossed. There couldn't possibly be a passageway that she didn't know about. She might have to ask Harry for the Maurders map to be certain.
Professor Vector eyed the pair speculatively and handed out the assignments making it clear there was to be silence in her classroom. They worked amicably for the next hour, occasionally glancing at one another. Growing increasingly frustrated at the equation in front of her, Hermione took her right hand from the table, letting it dangle lazily off the side of her thigh. At first, she thought she imagined it but then it happened again, and again. Nott's hand was grazing her hand in a semi-affectionate manner. It was if he was almost attempting to soothe her out of her agitated state. Hermione was nervous to move, her heart pounding as she was becoming uncomfortably warm. If she moved her hand, would he think she was snubbing him or, worse even, that she was trying to hold his hand. The more Hermione thought on it, the more flustered she became. Nott could see the heat rise to her cheeks each time his hand grazed hers and decided this was going to be fun.
"Looking a bit pink there, Granger" his voice was barely audible, and he didn't look up from his work, but his tone was somewhat flirty; Hermione could even see a shadow of a smile on his face. "You okay?"
Hermione's face changed quickly; it went from embarrassed to calm as she composed herself and tried to think of a justification less mortifying than the probability of her enjoying the feel of his skin on hers.
"Thank you for your concern, Nott, I assure you I am fine, it's just a bit warm in here." She shot back impishly.
Using her left hand, not wanting to take her right hand from him, she pulled off her scarf placing it down on the floor next to her book bag.
"Much better." She replied angling her body slightly more towards his.
Nott turned to look at her and noticed it straight away, the long cut down her throat. Malfoy had told him about it after it had happened of course, but he had never seen it for himself since she always kept it cover with the help of a scarf or jumper. When he had found her in the shower, he had been too preoccupied to take in her features; but here and now in the daylight he could see it. Instinctively, he slowly lifted his hand and, with delicateness that made them both trembled, ran his fingers down the angry line the blade had left. Nott didn't realise he was leaning into her until there was a cough from behind them. Snapping out of their daze both Hermione and Nott turned to find Professor Vector standing behind them.
"Well, if you two are quite finished, class is over. Off to lunch now."
With blood flooding their cheeks, they looked around and realized that they were, indeed, the only students remaining in the classroom. Gathering their belongings quickly, they made sure to never even glance in the direction of the other. They were out the door and gone in seconds. Professor Vector stood there quietly for a moment and thought to herself; well, this should be interesting.
