The next morning Draco arose an hour and a half before his first class. He grabbed his monogramed blue robe (blue was his favorite color contrary to popular belief) and headed for the bathroom that was adjoined to Hermione's room. He turned on the light and took a quick look around. The bathroom was decorated in both deep purple and dark blue. Obviously someone had snitched to the Headmaster that Draco had a fondness for blue. The purple must be for Hermione. There was after all a large purple towel on the heated towel rack with H.G. in white embroidery.
His own towel was hanging on the same rack, although it was light blue with D.M. stitched in darker blue. The people at Hogwarts really thought of everything. Draco quickly shucked his pajamas and jumped into a nice steamy shower. He used the shampoo that was provided (a nice blend of fresh and manly scent) and then after rinsing off the soap, jumped out and wrapped his robe around himself.
He quickly washed his face, brushed his hair and then his teeth, and left. He didn't feel like having Hermione destroy his good mood by whining about him being in the bathroom forever. He went into his room, got dressed, packed his books into his bag and went into the common room. To his suprise, Hermione was just adjusting the strap of her own book bag and she looked much better than she had the night before. She sparkled with cleanliness and her hair even seemed shinier.
"Good morning, Malfoy," she said with a business like tone. She seemed to be rather chipper this morning and Draco supposed it was because she would be excited for classes to start.
"Morning, Granger," Draco said not bringing up the fact that she must have gotten up at five in the morning to get ready before him.
"Did you get your schedule," Hermione asked and Draco blinked at her.
"Umm yeah," he muttered rummaging through his bag for it.
"Proffesor McGonagall said that you and I share our first class, which happens to be Tranfiguration and that she is going to partner us together, as an example for the rest of the class," Hermione said and Draco growled.
"Wonderful," he grumped and Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
"So we will have to break our agreements, because our homework will be joined," Hermione said her bossiness showing through.
"Break our agreements? Wait, when'd you talk to McGonagall?" Draco said suspiciously.
"This morning, I went to her office to ask her a question and she informed me of her plans," Hermione said rather self-conciously.
"You brown-noser. Well I would like a word with her myself, and it's going to about what I think of her so called plan," Draco said arrogantly.
The next morning, Hermione was oddly late getting up. Draco had to wait while she finished in the bathroom. He sat beside the door, tapping his foot and looking at his perfect nails. Hermione opened the door and came out, imaculately groomed and her face slightly flushed from the warm air that was escaping the bathroom behind her.
Draco watched as a lone drop of water ran from her neck to run to somewhere hidden by her robes. Draco licked his lips distractedly and pushed passed her.
Draco had found a way to really get under Hermione's skin. She hated being looked after and hen-pecked in a motherly way. So that was what Draco was doing. It was slowly driving Hermione up a wall and Draco gloated at every opprotunity, of course.
Such was the case when Hermione came back one night from watching Harry and Ron practising Quidditch. It had been raining all day and that night was no exception. Draco was pacing in front of the fire, when Hermione walked in. Her robes were completely soaked, her hair was clinging to her neck, and she was shaking from head to toe.
"Where have you been," Draco growled as soon as he saw her.
"I was out with Harry and Ron," Hermione said deffensively although she could sense she wasn't going to win this arguement.
Draco grabbed his blue throw blanket and pulled it around Hermione's shoulders. Hermione tried to bite her lip to keep her teeth from chattering, but that only made her knees knock together.
"If you get pheunoma, I am going to kill them both," Draco said angrily as he pulled Hermione in front of the fire.
"They are such idiots, it's not wise to make you watch them play Quidditch in the pouring rain. Look your soaked through, it's going to take forever for you to warm up and for what? So you can be their little cheerleader," Draco ranted as Hermione just stared at him with wide eyes.
"Draco, their my friends. I want to support them in their interests," Hermione said slowly, speech wasn't coming easily for her.
"Like they supported Spew," Draco asked coldly and Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
"It's S.P.E.W., not spew, and they supported me," Hermione said hazily her eyes starting to close in defeat.
"Not like you do for them," Draco finished quietly.
"You're never going to get dry with all those wet clothes on. Take them off," Draco ordered and Hermione's cheeks flamed and she looked angry.
"I didn't mean it that way," Draco snorted.
Hermione didn't say anything instead she waddled into her room and slammed the door behind her.
"You better come out in twenty minutes with warm clothes on, or I'm taking you to the Hospital Wing," Draco shouted at her door and he could hear a muffled scream of frustration.
Draco dropped lazily onto the large black sofa with a large smirk.
Hermione's door opened she came out in a dark blue cashmere sweater and tan corderoy pants. She had also wrapped her comforter around herself, so it was with great difficulty that she waddled over to one of the black leather recliners and sat down.
"You should tell those boys to sod off once in a while. Watching them rain or shine isn't an option," Draco said and Hermione scowled.
"I want to watch them," Hermione said stubbornly although she gave a large shiver at that moment.
"Liar. Grow some spine, Hermione. Be selfish for once in your life," Draco bullied.
"Sod off, Malfoy. I can take care of myself," Hermione said deffensively.
"Yes, and you demonstrate that so well," Draco said snidely as Hermione gave an involuntary shiver.
"Oh, I forgot your blanket in my room," Hermione said suddenly, happy to have a reason to change the subject.
"Go get it then," Draco demanded and Hermione glared at him.
"I don't know how Pansy can stand to fawn over you. You have the emotional capacities of a Flobberworm," Hermione said shaking her wet hair out.
"Thanks."
A look of grim determination marred her features. She was trying very hard not to scream at him, but he was infuriating.
"You look right pretty when you make that face," Draco said with childish arrogance.
"I am pretty all the time, even when you ruin my peace of mind," Hermione said proudly and Draco just lifted one perfect blonde eyebrow.
"Grew some self esteem have we, Beaver," Draco said and Hermione just smiled.
"That doesn't work on me anymore. Look my teeth are normal size," Hermione said triumphantly flashing him another smile.
"Doesn't make you less of a freak though," Draco said and Hermione looked put out for a moment.
"What's wrong with you tonight," Hermione said frankly, as she placed her hands on her hips and stared him down.
"Nothing," Draco said annoyed with her for trying to get into his mind.
"Then stop acting like you have something to prove to me," Hermione said forcibley.
"I am not," Draco said letting his suprise slip into his voice.
"You are. I already know, Draco, you're that Slytherin that needs no one and is emotionless," Hermione said waiting for him to smirk and agree with her.
"I can show emotion," Draco almost bellowed, losing his temper quite quickly.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Hermione said stubbornly.
Draco looked up from his book as the portrait slammed shut and Hermione appeared, her hair wind swept and her cheeks flushed. She was wearing what looked suspiciously like Ronald Weasley's cloak, an atrocious scrap of cloth that was flaming orange. It must clash terribely with the Weasel's hair, but on Hermione it made her look like the exotic hellcat she was.
Hermione smiled nervously at Draco and proceeded to her room. But Draco spoke just as she put her hand on the doorknob.
"My aren't we looking lovely tonight," Draco said sweetly.
Hermione laughed and turned around a suspicious look gracing her pink face.
"Out on a date where you," Draco asked darkly and Hermione turned redder which was a feat in itself.
"Why would it matter to you," Hermione asked and Draco gave her an appraising look that sent shivers down her spine.
"Maybe I'd be jealous," Draco said as though this was a huge admission for him, and in a way it was.
"Of what," Hermione said laughing shortly.
"Oh, I don't know, any bloke who feels he needs to put the moves on you," Draco said rashly and Hermione looked suprised.
"Ron wouldn't put the moves on me. We're just friends. He doesn't even like me that way," Hermione said quickly although she couldn't figure out why she wanted to clarify her friendship with Ron to Malfoy.
"Are you sure," Draco asked, he was really suprised that Hermione hadn't yet realized how Ron gazed upon her.
"Draco, what's wrong with you? First you scream at me for nothing and now you're going all protective now that you think Ron's putting the moves on me," Hermione said angrily, she was confused and it was making her mad.
"Shut up, Hermione. You're giving me a headache" Draco said rubbing his temples.
"You have no reason, nor right to treat me like this. I insist you stop," Hermione said gathering her strength as well as her will to walk away.
Draco shrugged and ignored her, not giving her the answer she'd hoped for, or the one she'd expected.
Hermione couldn't take this, she went into her room and screamed into her pillow.
It was the next day and Hermione was feeling rather awkward. She couldn't understand why, she just felt like something was off in her world. At lunch she got a huge bouquet of white roses. Every girl at her table looked at her with envy and were shocked when she opened the card and started rippig it up into tiny pieces. Ron and Harry were likewise puzzled.
"Who were those from," Ron asked, he was rather put out that someone was trying to romance his crush.
"Malfoy," Hermione said angrily and Ron's ears colored and his mouth dropped open, Harry on the other hand was taking it better, he was picking at his eggs thoughtfully.
"That's awfully strange," he finally said when Hermione looked at him questioningly.
"Yes, I know. He's such a dolt," Hermione said this time calmer.
"I have half a mind to throw this lot in the rubbish bin. But they are such lovely flowers," Hermione said and Harry laughed.
"Only you would get flowers from a boy and want to get rid of them," Harry said and Hermione smiled.
"Hermione, I've been meaning to say something to you," Ron said with sudden inspiration and Hermione was frightened by the prospect of what he might want to say.
"Yes, Ron?" She queried warily.
"I...I... I... I think you look very nice this morning," he stuttered nervously and Hermione blushed.
Harry choked on his soup because he was laughing so hard.
"Thank you, Ron," she said while patting Harry on the back.
"Harry, stop it, it's not funny," Ron said irratably and Harry gave one finally cough and tried to look serious.
"I have something else to say," Ron went on and Harry covered his mouth with his hand in expectation.
"What," Hermione said cringing slightly.
"I like you," Ron said rather simply.
Hermione was flabbergasted, what had gotten into Ron today? First Malfoy, now this.
"I...I...I don't know what to say," Hermione said awkwardly.
"It's alright, I'm just happy I finally said it," Ron said turning tomato red.
"Well, I have to get to the library," Hermione said quickly and Harry looked at her with sympathy.
"Bye, Moine," Ron said and Hermione gave him a smile.
"Bye, Ron, Harry. See you guys in class," Hermione called over her shoulder as she walked swiftly out of the Great Hall.
It was later that night and Hermione was holed up in her room. She didn't dare go out in the common room, where she knew Draco was studying. The whole day had been pretty much shot for Hermione. She had been distracted in all of her classes and Proffesor McGonagall had complained. Ron's outburst at lunch wasn't the only attention she had gotten either.
It was like Malfoy had opened the floodgates and now she was going to be drowned in affection. Boys from every house and of every age had approached her that day and declared that they thought she was quite pretty. It had been flattering at first, but then it just gotten to be too much.
Hermione was laying on her bed, uncharistically looking up at the ceiling. She heard a knock at the portrait and ignored it. She would let Malfoy handle something for a change. She heard him get up and answer it, then there was a knock at her own bedroom door.
"Come in," she shouted not caring who it was.
"Hermione," Harry said peaking his head around her door.
"Harry, what are you doing here," Hermione asked sitting up and motioning him to come in.
"I wanted to talk to you about Ron," Harry said and Hermione's face fell a few decimals from it's once cheery smile.
"Oh," she said and Harry snorted.
"Quite weird isn't it," Harry said and Hermione nodded.
"Well, I just wanted to tell you that now Ron wants to ask you out. I told him to hold off, but he feels like if he doesn't do it soon he'll combust," Harry said tactfully.
"Oh my God," Hermione said rather rudely.
"You don't have to say yes," Harry said and Hermione looked at him with a fearful look.
"But what if I hurt him? Oh, this is not fair," Hermione said and Harry put a comforting arm around her.
"Do what's best for you, Hermione. Not everyone else," Harry said.
"Harry, I know. Can I tell you something," Hermione started and Harry looked at her strangely.
"If it starts with the words I like...then please not now," Harry said and Hermione laughed.
"No, no more declerations of love, I'm afraid," Hermione and Harry smiled in relief.
"Nothing against you Hermione, but that would have been too weird," Harry said and Hermione sighed.
"Tell me about it," Hermione muttered.
"What I wanted to tell you was that I met someone during summer break," Hermione said slowly her eyes looking overly bright.
Harry loooked a little suprised, but he covered it quickly.
"You never said anything," He said simply and Hermione sighed.
"I didn't want to because, it didn't work out, and I felt so stupid at the time," Hermione said and Harry nodded.
"But Harry, he... he went missing yesterday. His mother asked my parents if I'd had any contact with him. I...I didn't know what to think. I hope he's okay," Hermione said and Harry just sat very still as her eyes began to mist over and she cried.
"Shh. Hermione, it's going to be alright," Harry said comfortingly moving over to rub her back.
"Harry, what would I do without you," Hermione sighed as her tears subsided and she let go of Harry, who was looking at the water-logged shoulder of his jumper.
"Sorry about that," Hermione said laughing and sniffling.
"Don't worry about it. I need to go now, but if you need to talk, you can always come to me, Hermione," Harry said and she nodded.
Harry squeezed her hand one last time and left.
After Harry had left Hermione went out into the common room. Draco looked up at her and smirked.
"Liked my flowers, did you," He said pointing to the table next to the couches.
"Not really, I don't want your affections, Malfoy," Hermione said and she went to her bookshelve and pulled out a thick tombe.
"Light read before bed," Draco joked and Hermione couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes, of course," She said and without looking at him, she walked back into her room