"GRANGER?" Draco yelled wildly, grabbing Blaise's collar and shaking him furiously.
"Yes, Hermione Granger," Blaise said calmly, taking Draco's hands off of his collar and placing them back onto the hospital bed.
This shit is NOT happening, good god. My life has turned into a nightmare, one bad thing after another with that stupid wtich keeps happening.
"Why did you let her touch me!" Draco said, shuddering at the thought of Granger's arms around his waist.
"You are a complete bastard sometimes, you know that? If it wasn't for her you would be roasting in bloody hell," Blaise told him, ashamed of Draco's reaction.
What the hell is this? A fucking television sitcom; Everybody Loves Mudblood?
"She's a mangy Mudblood for crying out loud. She's stubborn, annoying, a know it all and she always has to have things her way, like she's that stupid Muggle food chain Burger King!" Draco whined. Blaise looked at Draco and rolled his eyes at his childish behavior.
"Face it Malfoy, you and Granger have more things in common than you think. And I am going to make sure you give her a proper thank you for saving you, even though sometimes I really think she shouldn't have," Blaise said. Malfoy sighed and glared up at the white ceiling.
This gits really going to make me get her a thank you gift isn't he? Ugh, I should really just by her a rake to comb that hair of hers. I'm sure she'd appreciate that one.
"Fine Zambini, I'll get the damn girl a gift if it will make you shut up," Malfoy growled as he began to get up from his bed. Blaise tossed him his robe that had been draped over a chair and started to exit the curtained room.
"Good boy, Malfoy. I'll just go tell Madame Pomfrey you're good to go and we'll head down to Hogsmeade before dinner to get your knight in shining armor a gift," Blaise said with a smile and headed out.
More like a shining beaver in robes.
"How about this?" Blaise asked Draco, holding up a heart shaped box of chocolates. The two boys had been hunting for the perfect gift for Hermione in Hogsmeade for two hours already and their endeavors finally led them to The Cat's Meow, a small gift shop a few doors down from the Three Broomsticks.
"You've got to be kidding me. There is no way I am getting Granger anything portraying a heart. This isn't a wedding proposal," Draco scoffed as he peered at the vast amount of shelves that lined one of the store walls.
"By the way you two act I wouldn't be surprised if it was," Blaise mumbled in a barely audible voice while poking around a display of glass rose figurines.
"Say that a little louder next time and your going to get cursed into next Saturday," Draco threatened. Blaise threw up his hands innocently and backed up.
"I didn't say a word," he responded with a small grin.
To this day I wonder how I ended up with this moron as a best friend. If it wasn't for dear old Dad dropping me off at the Zambini Mansion one boring weekend when I was a toddler I wouldn't have to deal with his pathetic sense of humor and ridiculous gift giving customs.
"This is such a pain in the ass," Draco complained. He put an Ever- Blooming Flower back on the shelf and gazedat the packed walls, desperate to find something.
"Well, if it had been Pansy that saved you, what would you have gotten her?" Blaise questioned. Draco shrugged and pointed to a glass display case next to them.
"Probably some stupid necklace or something. She always wants the best and most expensive jewelry there is, that spoiled brat," Draco said, recalling on many a Valentine's Day he had to put up with that girl and her high class taste.
"I don't think you need to get Hermione anything fancy, just something small to show her you care," Blaise remarked. Draco glared at him as if he had three heads.
"I don't care, you dim wit," Draco retorted. Blaise pursed his lips together and nodded.
"Whatever you say, Draco."
Has Blaise lost his mind? He keeps acting like there is something going on between me and Granger. Ha! Even if she was the last girl on earth, if you can even call her that, I wouldn't even touvh her with a ten foot wand.
"Just write her a thank you card or something, this is getting ridiculous," Blaise said as they looked through a rack of candles.
"Finally, a smart suggestion!" Draco exclaimed and started to lead the way to the exit when something caught his eye near the front desk.
Bloody Perfect.
"Draco I thought we were leaving, wait what are you staring at?" Blaise said as he walked over to where Draco was inspecting something thoroughly.
"I think I've got it, it's got Granger stamped all over it," Draco said and held up the gift to Blaise with a smile in his face. Blaise slowly formed a grin with his mouth when he saw what Draco had found. He reached out and slapped Draco on the back heartily with his hand.
"I always knew you were a romantic," he commented while nodding approvingly. Draco's mouth gaped open and he dropped the gift.
"Romantic? No way am I getting this for her if you think it shouts I LOVE YOU," Draco quickly said. Blaise picked the gift up again and pressed it back into Draco's hand shaking his head.
"You're buying it, end of story," he proclaimed and headed for the door waving on his way out.
"I'll meet you back up at the Castle," he shouted as the door closed behind him.
"Why do you always win?" Draco mumbled under his breath as he walked up to the witch running the register, gift in hand.
Note to Self: Next time Granger saves my life, wrap up a chew toy.
"Nice of you to finally show up," Blaise said to Draco, who was panting for breath as he took his seat across from Blaise at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall.
"The damn lady at the gift store would not shut up. She kept asking me about the lucky girl I was buying the gift for , it was like the bloody inquisition," Draco said while pouring himself a large glass of pumpkin juice.
"Did you tell her it was for the ravishing young Hermione Granger, who coincidentally was also asking about how you were a few minutes before you showed up?" Blaise remarked. At this, he saw Draco's eyes instantaneously dart over to where Hermione was seated.
I can't believe she asked Blaise if I was alright. The girl that hates me with every bone in her body was concerned for my health? She was probably dying to know if I had lost a couple brain cells so she'd have a chance at kicking my ass on the N.E.W.T.S. Ha, Dare to dream, Granger.
"I actually told the woman I had scorched Filch's eyebrows off and it was a peace offering," Draco laughed, soon being joined in by Blaise. A few moments later, food appeared on the plated in front of them and they hungrily began devouring it. After a while of nonstop cramming, they were interrupted.
"Excuse me, students, may I have your attention for a moment," the loud and booming voice of Dumbledore projected over the Great Hall. Draco put down the chicken leg he was chewing on and stared up at the Head's Table. He saw Hermione over Blaise's shoulder trying to hush the giggling girls surrounding her. Draco smiled at this action.
Leave it to Granger to shut up the entire hall to hear whatever bullshit Dumbledore has to tell us.
"This announcement is for those competing in the Hunt," he started off saying. Draco's ears perked up and he leaned forward, making sure he'd catch every word.
"Tomorrow is the day before the competition and I need to meet with all the competitors in my Office tomorrow promptly at 8 AM," he announced. Draco furrowed his eyebrow trying to think of why Dumbledore would need to meet with them at such an early hour.
"Also, make sure you all get a good nights sleep and eat heartily, you will need your strength," he concluded with the usual twinkle in his eye, signifying something mischievous.
"I wonder what the hell that's all about." Draco wondered aloud. Blaise shrugged and picked up another chicken leg, thrusting it toward Draco.
"I have no idea, but he says you should eat up, so bon appetite!" Blaise said. Draco took the leg from Blaise and put it on his plate. For some reason he just wasn't hungry. He felt a sickening feeling in his stomach that resembled butterflies.
I can't believe I actually feel nervous about giving Granger her gift. I hope she'll like it...wait, what am I saying? I don't care about what she thinks; she is lucky I even thought to get her something. Oh god, what if she thinks I like her ? Great, now the stupid contest is going to be even more awkward with her avoiding glances with me the entire time. Good job, Draco.
"I'm done, I can't eat anymore," Draco groaned and pushed his empty plate forward. He saw the students around him start to get up to leave the Hall. In the distance, he could see the bushy head of Granger rising from her seat.
"Are you going to give Hermione her gift or what?" Blaise questioned, seeing Draco's eyes concentrating on something over his shoulder, what he undoubtedly presumed was her.
"I'm going already," Draco snapped and got up from his seat. He grabbed the small wrapped package he had off of the bench and headed to catch up with Granger. He quickened the pace as he saw her go through the doors.
"Granger!" he called out when she was about fifteen feet ahead of him in the hall. She whirled around at hearing her name. She saw Draco and a sour look appeared on her face.
Nice of him to finally show up. Does he even know I went to the Hospital Wing looking for him to make sure he was alright? That selfish jerk.
Mulling over her thoughts , she stood there impatiently tapping her foot.
"What do you want, Malfoy? I'm about to go to bed" she said. In a few strides,Draco was now in front of her, rocking uneasily in his place.
"Sheesh, Granger. Could you lose the attitude for a mere five seconds? "Malfoy asked. Hermione must have been surprised at his almost friendly tone because she bore an embarrassed look and instantly stopped tapping her foot.
"Did you need something?" she questioned. Draco looked down at his feet and mumbled something under his breath.
"I didn't quite catch what you said," Hermione told him, slowly losing her patience.
What is he trying to say? I save his life and now he's turned into Saint Malfoy ?
"Ahem..," he cleared his throat, meeting Hermione's eyes. She motioned her hand for him to continue.
"ThankyouforsavingmylifeMudblood," he said, louder this time. but still a mess. Hermione wrinkled her nose and shook her head.
"I can't understand you, speak clearer for goodness sake," she told him. He let out a big sigh and shifted awkwardly.
Why does the damn girl have to be so deaf all of a sudden?
"I said thank you for saving my life, Mudblood," he repeated loudly. Hermione let out a small smirk and shook her head, not even wincing at the word Mudblood. The term was almost endearing to her now.
"Really, it's not a big deal Malfoy. I mean, what I was going to do with a dead partner?" she laughed.
"Nothing I guess," Malfoy replied. He fingered the package he held behind his back, hesitant as when to give it to her.
"Well, if that's all I'll see you tomorrow then," she said politely and turned around to leave. Malfoy reached out his arm and tapped her shoulder.
"Wait, I… I kind of got you something for saving me," he blurted out.
He did what?
"You got me something?" Hermione said slowly, looking at him like he was a completely different person.
"Here,take it. But Just so you know, buying you something was Blaise's idea, not mine," Draco said, making sure she understood. He put his hand out that held the oddly wrapped gift and dropped it into Hermione's outstretched hand.
"This is…unexpected. Wow Malfoy, you really didn't have to get me anything," Hermione said, eyeing the package as if it would explode.
"Of course I know I didn't you fool," he snapped. She held the package in her hand, still looking at it uneasily.
"Well, are you going to open it?: Draco asked.
Oh wow, I must look like a bloody idiot standing here with the gift in my hand inspecting it.
"Oh yeah, sorry I forgot," she mumbled. Hermione tore the packaging off the oddly shaped lump and revealed a small, stuffed animal. It was an orange cat, much like her precious Crookshanks. The tiny cat held a dangling string in its mouth that held a sign at the end of it that read "Thank You!" Hermione gasped and plastered a huge smile on her face. She looked up at Draco and beamed.
"Oh, Malfoy! It's the most adorable thing I have ever seen! Thank you so much," she said in one breath, hugging the animal close to her chest. Draco couldn't help but grin back seeing how ecstatic she was over such a small, inexpensive gift.
Wow, she's really nothing like Pansy. Pansy would have probably taken that gift and thrown it into the fireplace. Granger is smiling like it's Christmas morning. God, I feel like a damn woman, being all sentimental. What garbage.
"It's really no big deal, its just some silly cat," Malfoy said back, trying to downplay the gift as much as he could. It clearly did not work because she shook her head furiously.
"No, it's absolutely wonderful, thank you," she said with glee and subconsciously threw her arms around Malfoy in an awkward hug.
What the hell! I'm hugging Malfoy, oh my god I've completely lost it this time.
As almost as quickly as she threw her arms around him, she pulled back, her face flushed. Malfoy had been still as a board when she embraced him and was still standing motionless when she drew back.
"I'm so sorry I was just…umm," Hermione started to say and fidgeted uncomfortably in her position.
"What the hell was that?!" Draco yelled, making Hermione move back quickly.
"I didn't mean it, it was just…I have to go," she said in a panic and quickly turned, running down the corridor. Draco stood there, his brain working double overtime analyzing what had just occurred.
I can't believe she just hugged me. She must be drinking that damned FireWhiskey again because I really don't think that stupid stuffed cat was worth her sacrificing all those years of avoiding being within 5 feet of me to hug me. Fucking crazy Granger.
Draco yawned and looked around at the now empty corridor and decided to begin his march to his dormitory, laughing to himself when he thought of his lesson learned for the day.
Note To Self: When eating ham sandwiches, cut into small pieces to avoid almost choking to death and having to buy Granger stuffed animals resulting in awkward hugging situation.