A/n- Wow, sorry for the inexcusably long wait, I got really sick last week, so I've been sleeping a lot. Oh, by the way, if you're still reading this and thinking 'okay… the first two chapters were really… random!' Your not alone, and -no- they aren't. Tee. Hee.
Disclaimer: Not mine!
Summary: Oh, to have good day for once. Really.
Jackknifed
Hermione passed the Library in a hurried half-run, her book bag nearly empty, surprisingly. It was ten after six, she was late again.
Well, yesterday she hadn't even shown up.
No matter.
He had probably been partying with his Slytherin 'friends'. But what if he had waited for her? Oh, yes that was it, wasn't it? Almost sure he had. Ha!
Hermione scowled to herself as her footfalls echoed around the deserted corridor.
Tap-tap-tap-tap.
Skidding around the corner, Hermione nearly ran into a short little first year. The girl was looking up the stone steps of the Owlry, staring blankly.
Hermione's brow furrowed and walked around to the front of the girl and blinked at her. It was like she saw right through her, the girl didn't even acknowledge her.
It was then she Hermione had felt it.
Turning around she walked towards the archway over the Owlry staircase.
It hummed.
How odd.
Reaching out, Hermione brushed her hand over the doorway. It was charmed. A concealment spell, a powerful one.
Oh wonderful. Hermione mused, inching her way through the doorway. She was able to pass onto the first stair. Looking back she saw the first year just staring at her, through her. The girl simply turned and walked away.
A concealment spell that only a select few could see. Ah, that was it. It repelled those who we're not allowed to enter.
Malfoy.
Leave it to him to go about acting like their friendshi- acquaintance was some matter of national security.
Hermione rolled her eyes, exasperated. Shaking her head, she started up the staircase, her arms feeling so light without the weight of so many books in them.
Halfway up the staircase, Hermione stopped, looking out across the grounds, the dusky sky casting sparkling winks over the castle. She laughed then, feeling so free from it all.
"Off your rocker, Granger?"
Hermione smiled and propped her chin upon her hand, leaning on the stone railing.
"Malfoy." She looked pointedly at him. "Sorry I missed yesterday."
"Well…I didn't even notice, carrying on with my mates, eh?"
"Ah, I see." She was still smiling.
He sat, looking down at her from top step, a book upon his lap, wand out.
"Studying?"
"Hardly."
"Ah, I see." Hermione repeated. "I don't have any work, so, I can help." He looked at her strangely. "If you want." She added hurriedly.
Draco ignored her and proceeded to turn another page in his book. Hermione walked up the remaining steps to the stone landing. She crouched behind Malfoy and looked over his shoulder. He scratched a few words on a rolled up bit of parchment he was balancing on the opposite knee.
Every few moments Hermione would breath in sharply at something Draco wrote. Each little noise making Draco smile. Hermione noticed and made the noise again.
"Granger, what are you doing."
"All of that's wrong."
Malfoy flung his head back in a long laugh. "I don't doubt it is, but please. My, your annoying."
"Put that." She pointed at a number in some figure on his paper. "Put that under that and it should come out right."
"Granger," Malfoy shook his head, eyes wide, tone struck. "How would you possibly know the calculations for broom-stick-lift? You don't even-"
"Fly?" Hermione sat herself next to Malfoy, leaning against the stone wall. She closed her eyes and Draco went back to his work, scratching out his previous numbers. Hermione, eyes closed, smiled broadly at the sound of his quill making long raking sounds on the parchment.
"How did you like the match?" Malfoy said offhandedly after a few moments. At that, Hermione dropped her smile.
"You scared me to death."
Draco laughed bitterly. "Worked then. I knew what I was doing."
"Yeah, falling off your broom!" She laughed.
Draco looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Why does everyone say that?!"
"You fell off your broom, Malfoy. Fell. That would be classified as 'falling'."
"Oh shut up."
"Well, I think we should celebrate."
Malfoy choked on his own breath.
"What?"
"You know, finally beating Gryffindor? The big match? Getting your one-up'ance on Har- Potter?"
"I knew you we're off you rocker."
"Well, Hogsmeads' tomorrow. We should go to the Three Broom Sticks. My treat. Something to say 'wow, Malfoy now actually knows what the snitch feels like'."
Draco raised an eyebrow. Slowly, he closed his book and set it aside. Turning, he angled himself so he was looking directly at Hermione. He pointed a finger at her, eyes gleaming, dancing.
"One, I don't enjoy that kind of sarcasm." Humor danced under his words. "Two, it is very hard to 'feel' the snitch when it knocks you in the chest. Three, Hogsmead is too large to put a concealment charm on. And four, you need to- God woman, stop grinning!"
Hermione was about to open her mouth.
"No."
Hermione closed her mouth, then reopened it.
"No-oo." Draco said again, a little too singsong like. "I'm not going to waltz into The Three Broomsticks with a little muggleborn and her Wonder Boy and Weasel attached to her waist. Not happening."
"But you said I was a nice change from your idiot cronies. Someone to talk to."
"Not a permanent change." He corrected, standing up and pulling his things into his arms.
"You know, friends-"
"We're friends?" Draco looked at her with his eyes wide. "I thought I was just using you to study." He said this as if he knew it. Believed it. As if he knew and believe it and she should to, she should have already known it. "Thanks, by the way, for that." He raised his book laden arms slightly. "Never could have done that without you."
Hermione looked stunned.
All of a sudden, just like that? Wasnt he joking with her a few moments before?
What had she said to make him so spitefull?
"But-"
"What, Granger? You really think we're friends?" But his eyes, though they glared at her, Hermione could not see the malice there that his voice held. "Oh, your laughable."
With that he turned and walked down the steps, his wand flicking, the charm over the Owlry entrance disappearing, the low hum it made cut short.
The silence was deafening.
.o.o.o.o.
You're a prat.
Prat. Prat. Prat.
Draco thought to himself all the way back down to the dungeons. Each step he took seemed to echo his thoughts.
Prat. Prat.
She had actually helped you, you ungrateful little wretch.
Malfoy murmured the password and stepped inside the Common Room.
You just had to go an spoil it.
"Oiy, Draco. Come look'et what Blaise been doing to-"
"Not now."
See? A nasty little voice in his head whispered. Back from that to this? What, Granger's company worth less then this lot's? Their a bunch of mindless trolls.
"I think I might be going insane."
Zabini walked up and clasped Draco on the back.
"We all are, mate. We all are. Oh, we thought up something while you we're gone! Three Broom Sticks. Tomorrow. Hogsmead. A little 'celebration' round, eh?"
Malfoy grimaced.
A/n- okay, this is the lovechild of fangirl-rabbles + very, very strong cold medicine. Sorry if it sucked. Next one up soon…like… tonight or tomorrow- hopefully.
Review!
