Chapter 21: Draco Lashes Out
Hermione left Ron out as she took him through the castle to the Gryffindor common room. Luckily no one was there so she was able to just leave him sleeping on the couch. She returned to her common room to find Draco had left. Where could he have gone?
Draco had seen her pass by to return to her room. She is such a caring person. But why would she care for someone that's put her through so much pain? He thought about it more and considered the relationship he used to have with his father. He truly loved his father as a child. And even up until he realized his father was following a mad man and risking the safety of his family. Maybe she loved him that much. Did Draco really actually have a chance with the infamous bookworm if she loved him like that? No. No he did not. What could he ever offer her? He was just a Death Eater on the wrong side of the war. But why did it hurt so much? Maybe he should just cut his losses. Blood hell!
Draco did not return to the Head's dorm that night. He hid himself in an empty classroom and transfigured a desk into a small pallet for him to sleep on. Beats sleeping in the Slytherin dorm. Blaise would ask questions, but he was not in the mood to answer any questions that were directly linked to that person he refused to name in his head. Just thinking her name left a longing feeling. Bloody hormones.
The next morning she tried to talk to him before class. He just turned away and ignored her. Thank Merlin today was not a potions day. He continued to ignore her throughout the day. She even waited for him after their last class but he hurried off without acknowledging her existence. And despite his pain, he continued to ignore her. He felt conflicted every time he saw her face fall, but that was what needed to be done. She could never be friends with him. Much less be together as more than friends.
Finally Hermione had enough of her new friend ignoring her.
"Malfoy!" She had cornered him on his nightly walk around the castle. Damn it, he thought.
"Yes, Granger?" He sounded almost disinterested.
"What is your problem? You have blatantly ignored me all day."
He paused. Well he guessed he could spin this one of two ways… Beg her forgiveness or push a chisel through the little pit that had cemented between the two of him. Who was he kidding? There was only one option if he wanted to remain sane.
"I don't think there's a problem."
"How can you say that? Did I do something wrong? Please tell me. I'm trying to understand here."
"Just go read your books. Maybe that will make things easier for you."
"You can't just act this way. What's wrong?"
"Watch me." And he walked away.
Hermione was crushed. What was his problem? He suddenly just changed how he treated her without any warning or indication. Maybe Blaise would know what is going on.
She returned to her room and tried to catch Blaise before he disappeared for the night.
"I can't help you, Granger. If he's decided to be a wanker then he hasn't told me. Can you think of anything that happened?"
Blaise didn't know what was going on, but he would find out. He suspected it had something to do with a red-headed idiot that the bookworm failed to give up on. Did Draco like Hermione like that? He suspected things were changing between the two, but Draco did always have a secret admiration for Hermione. He wasn't for certain, but Merlin he was going to try to trick the other snake to get the information.
He found Draco hiding in the library. But Draco wouldn't talk about it. Avoided the topic like dragon dung.
"Look I know you like her, man. But why are you being a dick?"
"I don't like her."
"And I'm a bloody bleeding Lion. I'm calling bull shit."
"It doesn't matter. She likes the drunkard. She's not going to leave him."
"Stranger things have happened…"