fourth chapter : the fluttering of one's heart

She was stalking him. At first he thought they just happened to cross by, and he hadn't noticed here before. Weird, since he was practically mad about her. But then, an impromptu encounter led to another one, and another one, and another one… He changed paths everyday in order to be sure, but yet here she was. He didn't understand, he thought she hated him after that discussion. Why would she be following him? The only times he could leave class or his dorms was when she was at the library. He watched her, through the doors' windows, and her patiently reading the most gigantic book ever seen in history, made him remember why he fell for her in the first place : Granger was different, but didn't bother hiding it. She was furiously but quietly herself. He admired that. Compared to her wild temper, he was calm as a dormant lake. Although he was known for his pompous and overall abhorrent personality throughout his first years at Hogwarts, he changed a lot and he wished he could say that it was his doing. But it wasn't, of course. Anything that happened in his life, and frankly mostly the worst, was thanks to his father. Draco waved his hand in front of his face, like wanting to make those thoughts disappear. He really needed to focus on Snape's class, especially since he would be handing out their rolls and grades about their last essay. He already knew potions was his forte, and Professor Snape seemed to be sort of… caring? with him, so he wasn't really worrying about the grades, he just needed a quick reminder that he was a person, with knowledge and will of his own, not his father's puppet. Again, his father's opinion unconsciously made its way through his brain and altered his vision of himself. He closed his eyes and shook his head nervously, but when he opened them again, she was looking at him. She didn't break the eye contact, they just stared at each other, for what felt like eternity to him. She even smirked. So she wasn't following him for ill reasons, she wasn't mad at him. That gave him such a relief, he instantly forgot everything about his father and the clas-

"Mr Malfoy?"

He blinked rapidly, trying to locate his professor.

"Mr Malfoy, if you could please answer the question for the rest of the class?"

Professor Snape was standing on the right side of Draco's desk. He must have gone around on his left, which he couldn't see since Granger was on the right side of the class.

"Well, hum- c-could you repeat the question please?"

"Well it seems like someone has been daydreaming today. Anyone could answer the question otherwise I'll take 50 points out of Slytherin for slowing down the whole class' learning pace?"

Nobody moved. That was why it was asked to Draco. To show off, as his little protégé who no one could equal in his class. He knew he had the answer, but Snape would never degrade himself in such a way. The silence was astounding. Did everybody hate him that much or did they all suck at potions?

"It's the syrup of hellebore. It was the missing piece for the Draught of Peace, which is used to soothe people subject to anxiety or panic attacks."

Of course she was the one who could compete with him in this class. In any class. Hermione Granger wasn't named the Brightest Witch of Her Age for nothing after all. He knew he'd have to wait until the end of the class to thank her, but he also knew that Snape would obviously want to see him, to reprimand him for his behaviour, humiliating the Slytherin House because of his conduct. Draco didn't mind Snape, although he still wasn't quite sure which team he was on. His father talked about him highly, which led Draco to believe he was a traitor in the walls of Hogwarts, but as Dumbledore was the Greatest Wizard of all times, he sure as hell would know if Snape worked for the Dark Lord to pass on information and weakening our defenses.

"Seems like you were saved Mr Malfoy, you should thank Ms Granger. Unfortunately for the both of you, I'll take 50 points from each of your houses for showing off, and barely showing up at all. Think it through next time."

Whispers roamed around the class. Draco clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, therefore locking his jaw from anger. As expected, Snape didn't go easy on him. That didn't bother him at all, although he knew he would get in trouble if that happened commonly, but because of him being Head Boy, most teachers would lay low anytime he acted questionably. But Snape? Oh no, he seemed shaped for Draco's chaperoning, always reminding him that he belonged in Salazar Slytherin's house and wouldn't let Draco's slacking off damage that precious reputation. But for him to attack Granger? That wasn't unusual unfortunately, for he seemed to hold personal grudges against her, or actually against their well known trio, that would be more accurate. But picking on Granger was unfair, especially since there was no mention about who could answer his question. Many times in his life had he been a witness or a victim of anger, which taught him to master the art of controlling it and redistribute it on more positive aspects, like growth or overcoming obstacles. With any other teacher, he would have stood up and smoothly argued his way into getting those points back, for the two of them. But it was already prying too much on his mind, and he knew there was nothing he could do with Snape. The school's bells rang, therefore putting an end to his misery. Or so he thought.

"Malfoy, a word." Snape said, while he and other students were already packing their stuff up. Draco took his time, until he managed to catch Granger's stare. But this time, he couldn't find comfort nor warmth inside. He watched her go down the aisle, and not stop nor initiate any gesture towards him. Let alone her deadly stare, nothing could ever presume they shared… intimacy? God, those thoughts alone made his cheeks slightly turn red. But something was wrong and he couldn't quite tell what. He watched her leave the classroom in company of her two best-friends, giving zero fucks about him. They left last.

"Draco, will you come back to your senses?"

Draco turned around and sighed loudly. "What have I done wrong this time?"

He lstared at Snape, who stared back, his eyes full of what could be mistaken for boredom mixed with disgust. Snape's usual display of emotions, but Draco learned to read his mentor like any other human being he was known to encounter regularly. At least, that's what Draco thought, until that day. He thought was about to scold him, for whatever reason related to his non-exemplary behaviour as a Head Boy. A Slytherin Head Boy, of pure blood, who also happened to be the unofficial protégé of the Head of the Slytherin House. All of that seemed to make Snape believe he had a say in everything Malfoy did. But not this time. This time he broke his mask into a smile, timid, but there, almost caring.

"What?" said Draco. "What is it? Why aren't you lecturing me? Isn't that why you made me stay?"

"Draco.." Snape barely mentioned his name these days, "I see you've finally realised the path your father, and I a long time ago, wasn't the only path. Hatred isn't what you should be filled with."

"I still don't understand."

"You think I'm a fool? Having known you for 5 years, having seen you amongst your peers, I witnessed you growing up, but I wasn't expecting you… to fall for someone. Especially her."

"Who said I was?"

"Your eyes, your cheeks, and from what I can sense, the fluttering of your heart."

end of the fourth chapter

Hey everyone! This is my first aside from this work of mine and I'm really excited to let you know more. Just so you know, this is part of NaNoWriMo 2020, and my goal is to reach 10k words by the end of the month. For some of you that might not seem like a lot, but English isn't my native language, I'm actually French! So, fellow readers, let me introduce myself : I'm Hyacinth(e) or you can call me Yaya, I'm 23 and I suffer from a bipolar disorder. This is why this project is heavily influenced by it, and there are noticeable pace changes during Hermione's parts. I'm not quite sure what else to tell you, during this month I'll try to update every 3 days, maybe more don't be mad at me haha. Hope you'll enjoy my story in its every weird aspects!

- Yaya xx