An Unexpected Flame

AN – Thanks heaps for all the reviews I know it's been awhile but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. This chapter is a little slow but it is all going to pick up soon I promise. Thanks! :)

Aristocat

Chapter 5 – Showtime

After his story inspiring exit from Potions Draco had made his way back to his room and this time without being followed. He had a lot of time to kill until dinner and figured if he was going to spend most of his night in detention he definitely had to get some of his homework out of the way. Draco had only had one other subject today but the amount of homework it had by itself had been intimidating. It was then that the predicament he had just gotten himself into seemed to dawn on him. Draco had just received a week worth of detentions which was good for his plan but would definitely cause his school work to slide. On top of that he was going to be missing a fortnights worth of Potions which was probably going to ruin any chance of getting a good mark in that class. Damn woman…Weasley girl. Filled with a surge of emotion Draco banged his fist on the table. How could he have been so reckless? Sure, the detentions alone could have been fine but missing class was a whole new level. He had been on a bit of a high at the time and he had to admit it felt damn good. The risk and thrill of it all, it made him feel alive. It was the same way his plan made him feel and reliving those thoughts now made him smile.

"I think I'm going to be rebellious more often." Draco thought with a smug expression while twirling his quill in his finger. It was then that he noticed it was time for dinner. With a deep breath Draco rose and made his way to his door. With a pause he smiled.

"Showtime." Draco whispered before placing a hand on the door and walking into the communal area with a scowl. Like he had predicted Hermione sat on one of the study tables and immediately reacted to his presence.

"What were you thinking?" Hermione called rising from her chair. "You are Head Boy you should be setting an example!" Draco turned around sharply to face her.

"You want to know what I was thinking! I was wondering who the hell had hit me with a tickling jinx! Do you know how hard it is to even try and resist laughing when you get hit with one of those? Now my whole year could be ruined because of some Gryffindor's stupid prank. That is what I was bloody thinking." Draco yelled red faced. He felt proud when Hermione took a step back and he noted what might have been sympathy in her eyes.

"Oh. Have you told Professor Snape this?" Hermione found herself believing him. After hearing the gossip from lunch that day she could imagine someone doing that to Malfoy as a nasty prank. Not just because he was Malfoy but also Head Boy. She felt sorry for him. Imagine if it had been her?

"No." Malfoy scowled continuing to pace for effect. "I've been in my room trying to stop myself from attacking every Gryffindor present at today's potion lesson! A fortnight's worth of lessons gone, what THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO!" he yelled punching the wall as hard as he could causing a bone in his hand to break. The crack rang through the room as Draco clutched his hand. Hermione shook; she had not expected Draco to be so angry let alone violent.

"Draco, calm down. I'm sure if you talk to Professor Snape it will all be ok…i….i will even go with you….and…and talk on your behalf. Just calm down, I think you may have broken your hand." Draco smirked inwardly, he could not have asked for a better response. Stopping his pacing he looked at her putting on a darkly suspicious face.

"Why would you help me Granger?" It was the obvious question that she knew was to come and even she didn't really know why.

"I don't know maybe its because if the situation was reversed I would want all the help I could get. Now I really think you should go to the Hospital Wing." He stared at her for a good moment before nodding and making his way for the door and pausing just before leaving.

"Thank you." Draco said softly before disappearing into the empty corridor.

/\/\/\/o\/\/\/\

Ginny was not looking forward to dinner, it had been a horrible day and the last thing she wanted was people to be staring at her all night and then there was the first detention session with Snape. Just peachy. All she needed now was to run into Draco Malfoy or to actually fall down the stairs to top off the day. However she was surprised that even though the Great Hall was buzzing none of the attention was on her. Feeling like she caught a lucky break for the first time today she smiled as she sad between Alex and Claire.

"Hey what's going?" she asked causing them to snap their heads toward her.

"What?"

"You didn't hear? After your little stunt in potions." Claire continued. "That wasn't the end of the potions shenanigans…"

"You sound like a tit." Ginny remarked causing Alex break out laughing and Claire to give her a wounded look. Ginny sighed.

"I'm sorry Claire, bad day and all that business. So what were the other potions….shenanigans?"

"Well after lunch Draco Malfoy did the same thing, burst out laughing in potions. Apparently Snapes vein nearly burst! Draco's was given detention for the week, lost house points and has been banned from Snape's classroom for the next fortnight." Claire said all really quickly causing Ginny's eyes to bulge.

"WHAT! That is it; this is officially the worst day ever. Oh no…"she groaned dumping her head in her hands. Bloody Malfoy what the hell was he playing at getting detention. Was this to do with her? ARGHH the whole situation was infuriating. Looking around she tried to find the person that everyone was looking for but he wasn't present. Sighing she looked at the clock, not that it was going to matter but she was going to be seeing him in a few short hours anyway. Bloody Malfoy!

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