A/N Well, here you are. This chapter is more from Draco's perspective, as requested. Enjoy!
As alwas, thanks to JK Rowling for creating this wonderful world!
Draco paced back and forth in the Slytherin common room. He couldn't believe that he had confessed that to Granger. If he was honest with himself, it had felt good. But years of being told again and again by his father and his crazy aunt that Muggleborns were scum of the earth; that they weren't to be trusted, that he was better than all of them, and that he had to keep all of his emotions pent up inside him were weighing down on him, greeting him at every turn. His father would have been so incredibly ashamed if he had heard Draco even reveal the little that he had in the Adjustments class earlier that day. He would have regarded that as "sissy" behavior, to be laughed at, scorned. Draco felt so conflicted. He truly wanted to open up to Hermione, to have someone that he could trust and who could help lighten even a bit of the tremendous load that he felt weighing down on him all the time. But that would mean turning his back completely on his family. Even though they were horrible people who had treated him like dirt in many ways, they were still his family, and this bad behaviour seemed like the only connection to them that Draco had left. Truthfully, Draco had a fear of the unknown, and trusting the know-it-all definitely qualified as the unknown. Even though Hermione was one of the heroes of the war, to Draco she was still his school nemesis, the muggle-born who had been the cause of much scorn from his father. He could still hear his disgusted voice now, "How could you come second to a mudblood?" Many bad memories were associated with her, as well as the racking guilt he felt whenever he looked at her, remembering her screaming on the floor of his manor as his aunt tortured her for information that she did not have. In many ways, Draco's issues were not with her house or people of her birthright, but simply with her. Well really, they were his issues about her.
His brooding was interrupted by Blaise Zabini going, "So Drake, do tell us how you are 'adjusting' to Granger?"
"Can't say if there's nothing to tell." Draco shot back.
"Well I certainly have a lot to share," Blaise replied. "You know, Potter is a lot nicer than we give him credit for."
"I always thought that his niceness was precisely the issue," Draco said sardonically. "He's loyal, nice, honourable…it's sickening." He smirked at Blaise who just shook his head.
"Well I'm discovering that nice can be good." Blaise mused. "You know, he hasn't been mean to me once. But he doesn't push it either. It's like he's giving me my space to open up at my own pace. He's treating me more nicely than I'll ever deserve," he finished softly.
Draco didn't quite know how to reply. Blaise seemed to be taking the classes in stride. So as usual, he deflected.
"How about you Daph?" he called out to Daphne who seemed to be in her own little world over by the huge black fireplace.
"Hmm?" she said with a start.
"How are you finding this Goddamn course?" he repeated.
Daphne had in fact been tuned out thinking about the course. More specifically, she was daydreaming about a certain someone in that class. Ron Weasley was more than she had ever expected a Gryffindor could be. He was funny, and seemed to like her. Daphne had always been a quiet, reserved girl. Serious like most Slytherins, yet she kept to herself, not often participating in the trouble that her housemates got up to. Sure, she hung out with Pansy and her followers, but that was more just for show, and so she'd have a bit of company. She was definitely on the fringes. She found that Ron's loud-mouth, humourous personality complimented hers quite nicely. They balanced each other out well. In fact, Daphne wasn't dreading the Adjustments courses any more. Quite the opposite actually—she eagerly awaited them. She was still a Slyrherin however, all she said was,
"It's going fine."
Draco didn't seem to find her answer out of the ordinary. All of the Slytherins expected short answers from Daphne.
"That's good," he said, then turned around to talk with Blaise.
Daphne watched Draco chat with his best mate. He had changed so much this year. He was tense all the time, as though he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Daphne knew that he felt personally responsible for much of his family's crimes, even though he had had nothing to do with most of them. But that was the old pureblood way. Families shared everything, including guilt. She wished that she could do something to help her peer, but Draco never let anybody in, not even Blaise. He was exceedingly private, although you'd never guess by his bravado, something that Daphne knew was all for show. She wondered if Hermione Granger would have any luck. A week ago, Daphne would have scoffed at the idea, but as she was learning, there was more to Gryffindors than she had given them credit for. She smiled as she thought of Ron's freckled face and smiling blue eyes. The Adjustments classes were changing things, that's for sure.
xxxxx
"Now this next project is one which I know that many of you will struggle with," Proffessor McGonagall said in her usual stern way as she peered at the class over her spectacles. "But it's time to move things along."
Draco glanced at the witch sitting next to him. Somehow, he had trouble agreeing with his teacher's words.
"The assignment itself is simple," McGonagall continued. "Each partner must pay the other three compliments. You shall take turns. That is all. Begin!"
Draco gulped. He had trouble giving compliments to his friends. How was he going to give them to Granger?
"Would you like me to begin?" Hermione offered.
For once, Draco didn't disagree with her. Giving her a curt not, he leaned back with his arms behind his head and did what he did best:
"Go ahead, lavish me with praise Granger," he smirked arrogantly.
"Fine. Well, there's no disputing that you are quite intelligent," Hermione began.
"As are you," Draco said somewhat grudgingly. "There. One down, two to go."
"Oh, no no no. That won't do. You have to come up with an original compliment." Hermione said firmly.
"She never said that!"
"I do though. Go ahead!"
"Dear God woman, I've never met someone as bossy as you!"
"I really don't think that qualifies as a compliment. Try again."
Draco bit back a growl. "Fine. Have it your way. Umm…I've never met anyone as determined as you. That can be interpreted as a nice thing to say. Take it or leave it."
"I'll take it," Hermione said sounding surprised. "Thank you," she added sincerely.
Draco nodded bruskly, avoiding eye contact.
Well," Hermione said, "You're a fine Quidditch player."
"Better than Potter?" he smirked.
"Don't push your luck!" Hermione laughed. For once, Draco didn't mind not being called better than Potty.
"Well, you're a terrible flyer, so you don't need to worry about me copying your compliment!" Draco said.
Before Hermione could wonder if he was being serious or not, he actually shot her a grin. Her answering smile was immediate, and to her disbelief, she actually felt butterflies in her stomach at his smile. What was happening to her?
"Now, what can I say that is a compliment?" Draco mused. "Well Granger, you're not actually ugly."
"Nice try, but I think you'll have to do better than that."
"Fine," Draco replied. He got quiet for a moment, then hesitantly, he said in a near whisper, "You're not too bad looking at all, Granger."
The butterflies returned in full force, but Hermione kept her face straight and said, "Thank you Malfoy."
Grinning once more, Draco said, "Now that is a compliment that I definitely have to worry about you stealing and directing at me!"
"I don't think so Malfoy." Hermione laughed. Draco joined her for a brief moment. His laugh was fleeting, but it was music to Hermione's ears.
"Time for your final compliment, better make it good!" Draco said.
This time, it was Hermione's turn to hesitate. When she spoke, her words stirred something deep inside Draco. "I really do think that you have it in you to be a good person," Hermione whispered, her warm chocolate brown eyes holding Draco's gaze.
Draco felt as though her words had thrown his thoughts into upheaval. He was already confused by their banter. He hadn't meant to let his guard down, but it was so easy to feel relaxed with her. She was one of those people who made you feel as though you had known them your entire life even though you had only just met them, which in many ways, Draco realized, was exactly what had happened to him. He was really just getting to know Hermione Granger now. What's more, Draco realized that he craved more. He was so in over his head.
He realized that he had been silent for over a minute, and had to say something.
"How can you forgive me so easily?" he asked, his voice low.
"Because I'm a Gryffindor," Hermione replied, eyes twinkling.
Just like that, the tension broke. That was the thing about her, Draco mused. She was so incredibly intense, but also incredibly aware of his emotions, and seemed to know when he needed to take a step back. Before he knew what had come over him, he blurted out,
"You're the most kind-hearted person I know."
Hermione was quite once more. After a moment, she turned away from him. Still, she didn't say anything. Draco began to get nervous.
"What is it? Did I do something wrong?"
She turned back to him, and Draco was alarmed to see that her eyes were filled with tears.
"What did I say wrong?" he asked desperately, part of him wondering why the hell he cared if he had hurt her feelings. He really was losing his mind.
"You didn't say anything wrong," Hermione said smiling, "I'm just so touched. Thank you Malfoy, truly."
Draco replied in the only way that seemed natural in that moment. He shot her a smile. A real one.
Professor McGonagall observed their exchange with a smile of her own. Things were going far better than she had planned. Clearly they were becoming aware of the chemistry between them themselves, whether or not they realized it.
On the other side of the room, Blaise and Harry were completing their challenge as well.
"I was always jealous of your looks," Harry blurted out. "Mostly because of the way the ladies respond to them." He admitted.
Blaise snorted with humour. "How about your hot little red head?" he asked Harry. "I wouldn't mind if she took notice of me if you know what I mean." He winked.
Harry opened his mouth in protest. "Kidding!" Blaise cut in, smiling. "Cool your jets, I'm just kidding."
Harry did something that surprised himself. He laughed. Blaise joined in, and soon the two men were holding their sides as they hooted.
"Was that supposed to be a compliment?" Harry gasped out between laughs.
"Yes indeed, a compliment à la Zabini." Blaise replied, chuckling.
"My my Zabini, you really are a piece of work."
"Gee thanks, what a compliment!"
Ron and Daphne had completed their assignment easily, and then some. Most of the other pairs had as well, though that was less surprising as there weren't any pairings that were as volatile as Hermione and Draco and Harry and Blaise. Other than Ginny and Pansy that is.
"You're quite pretty….for a dog." Ginny snapped at Pansy.
"Your hair is amazing, orange as a flame!" Pansy replied. "So bright that I sometimes think that your head is actually on fire….than my daydream gets interrupted."
McGonagall shook her head in exasperation as she observed the pair. Oh well, progress doesn't always happen overnight.