Disclaimer:

I don't own Harry Potter.

A Forbidden Love

Chapter Five: A little too close for comfort

A week had gone by. Everything had been somewhat normal. No one tying to kill each other. Ginny and Harry seemed to keep their relationship steady. Not rubbing it on Hermione's face like she thought they would. Harry didn't want to ruin a friendship it seemed. She had been studying extra hard and actually getting work done sooner. She didn't like having a lot of free time now that didn't really have... anything "exciting" in her life. Sometimes she would walk around the school be herself as depressing as it sounded. However, Ron did pop up every now and then.

She wanted to do something new and fun this year. But she didn't know what. She wanted to just come up and grab and shake her.

Well, maybe not shake her... Hermione was somewhat lonely though.

Hermione was walking along the ever so lengthy bridge on a warm afternoon after class by herself. She was looking off to the left side as she slowly walked along the wooden platform, hearing it creak every so slightly. She walked over to the side and leaned over the edge. She let out a quiet sigh and looked down, closing her eyes.

Her mind wandered in endless circles. What could she possibly do to keep her mind off of being so bloody depressed? All she was really good for was tutoring people if that was any help towards her. However, it didn't seem like a bad idea. She would be seeing people and actually talking to a human being rather scribbling rants into her notebook that made her hand ache.

Before she could finish the thought, she was off to see Professor McGonagall in her office.

When Hermione arrived at the tower her Professor was in, she could hardly keep her thoughts straight. She was desperate to do something to keep her busy.

She knocked.

"Come in..." said a soft feminine voice from the other side of the door. Hermione slowly opened the door and entered the office before closing the door quietly behind her. "Oh, Hello Hermione... is there something I could do for you?"

"Yes, professor.." Hermione started, sitting at a chair in front of the desk that the elder teacher was located behind. "I was wondering... if I could tutoring students?" She asked, looking up with desperate, somewhat pleading eyes.

"Tutor?" Professor McGonagall asked, tilting her head to one side. "Well.." She started, looking off to the side at some papers on her desk. "There have been a few first-years who are in need of some extra help... possibly some second and third-years as well. I don't know if you can handle so many though."

"It doesn't have to be a big class room. Just if the students needed help or if they have to have help in order to pass that required class." Hermione explained calmly. "I could tutor 2 to 3 students on some nights. I wouldn't mind."

"Hm... Well, that would be lovely dear." Professor said, smiling at Hermione. "I'll be sure to inform Snape about it. I'm sure he'll be delighted."

Delighted was another understatement. Snape never showed any type of happy emotion.

"Thank you professor." Hermione said, getting up and left the office.

Once she was out, she couldn't help but smile. She was actually doing something for herself.

The next Monday morning, Hermione and Ron were off to potions once again. She walked in silence for the first few moments while Ron explained his weekend with Harry and Ginny. They had been fooling around with Hagrid and his hut. She wondered why she wasn't invited. She loved seeing Hagrid. 'Oh well... there's plenty of weekends and days to see him..' She would probably be too busy now that she would be tutoring people. Which she wouldn't tell Ron or Harry about. Although, it may get out. The students might refer others to her for help and oh, maybe Ron and Harry would hear about it. But she didn't care. She wanted to be independent and make her own happiness.

Once they entered the classroom, said a "hello" to Snape at the doorway as he watched his students come in, Ron and Hermione sat down at their normal table in the middle of the class. They saw Harry enter after them as usual, sitting to the table to them with Neville.

Oh and Malfoy, sitting on the other side as well.

He seemed a little out of place this morning. She saw Pansy stroll in the door shortly after he did and sat down slowly next to him, not saying a word to him.

Hermione just shrugged it off and got out her book as usual.

Snape had ordered to do a certain potion for the day. One they had learned in previous chapters. Hermione and Ron worked together and they actually got done early thanks to Hermione's help. Ron was quite good at this potion as well. Maybe he was trying to impress her.

"I've been studying..." Ron stated as he returned to their table after putting everything away.

"I can tell." Hermione replied, smiling up at him. "I'm proud of you Ron, you actually got something right after 7 years." She laughed.

"Oh, shut up.." Ron said, putting his head down on the desk, wrapping his arms around.

"Oh, don't pout.. I was just joking.." She said, patting his shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah.." He muffled.

Shortly after there was a commotion going on at the table to the right of her. Draco and Pansy were having a hard time mastering the potion.

"Damnit, Pansy!" Hermione heard Draco yell.

"What? I didn't do anything!" Pansy shouted back at him.

Uh oh. Not good.

"Is there a problem Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked as he quickly rushed over to see what was the matter.

"No... Well, I don't know!" Draco responded, quite frustrated with himself. He didn't want to admit that there was a problem. He was always right, of course.

"Well, it seems to look like one.. What did you do?" Snape asked again, calmly as he picked up a few materials and looked at the directions from the book.

Hermione couldn't make out whatever was said after that. The class was beginning to finish up and talk. She looked over to her right but was blocked by Snape and his big black cape-looking thing he always wore.

Just as the bell rang, Hermione was about to leave but quickly stopped by Snape's hand.

"Wait.." He ordered.

Ron looked at them with a confused expression. Hermione waved him to go on.

Snape had left to go to his desk, picking up a piece of paper.

"Professor McGonagall has sent me something that you were interested in tutoring? Is that right?" Snape asked as he was flowing back to where Hermione was still standing. Not noticing Draco was still sitting at his desk, looking straight forward, arms folded tightly. He looked angry.

Pansy had already left.

"Um, yes. That's correct." Hermione replied

"Well, then... it seems that Mr. Malfoy is having a bit of a problem in his potions coarse."

"I am not. I just had one mistake." Malfoy butted in.

Snape shot him a look and then continued with Hermione.

"I wasn't sure if I should allow this." He began. "However, I have no reason not to now." He looked at Malfoy with disappointment.

"When should I-.." Hermione started.

"As soon as possible.. I recommend either tonight or tomorrow night." Snape said, walking back to his desk to sit behind it, writing something down before "shooing" both of the students away.

Malfoy quickly got up and put the materials away before coming back to get his book bag and leave. Not saying a word to Hermione, who just stood there, watching him with a blank expression. Not knowing what to think.

"Leave, Ms. Granger." Snape ordered again.

She jumped and left the class room quickly, shaking her head of such weird thoughts.

Hermione arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts class room finally, walking in as quietly as she could. She found Malfoy already sitting at the table next to Ron, who looked back and smiled at her. Malfoy had one hand on his head, looking down. Pansy sat next to him but payed no attention to him as he sat as far away as possible from her.

She made her way over to sit next to Ron. He was still confused.

"So, what was all that about?" He asked, whispering. Professor Carrow was lecturing.

"Snape just wanted to talk with me.." She whispered back, getting out her book.

"About?"

"Uh.. about the potion.."

"Why?"

"Ron.."

"Sorry."

"Anyway, what are we doing?" She asked, looking up finally at Ms. Carrow who was walking around, talking still.

"She just keeps talking... so boring." Ron exclaimed, rolling his eyes.

Hermione decided to write down some notes for class period. However, she couldn't stop thinking about having to actually tutor Malfoy. If he would even show up.

After class, Hermione and Ron were the one of the last ones to leave the class. As they were out the door on their way to Transfiguration, Malfoy walked passed them, somewhat brushing past Hermione's shoulder roughly. Ron was about to say something but was only stopped by Hermione's hand on his arm. "Its fine.."

"No, its not!" He shouted. "Whats his problem?"

"Its nothing, Ron." Hermione said, rubbing her shoulder as he face turned red. She walked with her head down.

"Its something... I saw him after potions as well. What did Snape want with him?" He asked

"I don't know." She said calmly. "Lets forget about it."

Ron just rolled his eyes as they walked to class together.

Harry was in front of them, stopping to wait up for them as he saw what Malfoy did. He asked as well what his problem was but Hermione just told him not to worry about it.

Ron and Harry were on either side of Hermione as they walked into class together. Acting like her body guards. Hermione didn't notice. She felt embarrassed.

Malfoy turned his head around at them and just rolled his eyes and shook his head. He mumbled something under his breath but Hermione couldn't make it out as she passed his desk.

Throughout the class, Hermione couldn't concentrate on what was going on. She just kept looking down at the desk she was at. She felt sick to her stomach. Why was she so upset? It was just Draco. He couldn't do anything that bad to her. Although she was still afraid of the fact that he was a Death Eater. She wondered if she would be supervised during the tutoring session. She doubted it.

"You okay, Mione?" Ron asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. He looked at her with concern.

"I'm fine, Ron. I'll be fine. Promise." She replied softly. "Thanks anyway."

She could feel Malfoy staring at her with his angry eyes.

After class, they all headed to the Great Hall for studying. Hermione walked with Ron and Harry as usual. She didn't say much in their conversation. She was still thinking of how this supposed tutoring was going to go down. Hermione could see Malfoy sitting on one of the benches outside the school by himself, looking the opposite way.

Hermione bent her head down as they all passed him. Ron and Harry giving him evil glares as Malfoy stared back and smirked.

"Hey Granger!"

'Great.. wait, what? Granger?'

Hermione turned around slowly at Malfoy who was looking at her, squinting his eyes. He waved her to come over.

"Hermione!" Ron started. "Don't.."

"Ron, Harry, go on.. its okay." She said as she made her way over slowly to Malfoy.

"But-"

"Just go! I'm a big girl.." She said, looking back at them. Harry patted Ron's shoulder and nodded him to come in with him, telling him that it was okay. Ron shook his head at her and unwillingly went inside with harry.

Malfoy chuckled a bit before getting up to stand in front of Hermione. He looked around to see if anyone was watching. Making sure they were inside now.

"Look.." He started. Hermione turning back around to see that Malfoy was about a foot or two away from her. She gasped and jumped back a bit. He just moved in again closely. "I don't need any of your help."

"Well.. N-not according to Snape." She replied back softly. "And from what I saw for myself."

"One mistake." He said, staring at her with no expression on his face once more. "I got distracted. Pansy got on my nerves and I wasn't paying attention. I-"

"I was given orders to tutor you. So, I will." She said, crossing her arms. "I don't like this either, Malfoy. I didn't do this for... you or anything. I did this for me."

"Why?" He asked shortly.

"I have nothing better to do with my time."

He smirked and chuckled again. "I see." He said, looking over Hermione's shoulder and narrowed his eyes. He could see Harry behind the stone archway, peering out the side of it a few yards behind them. "I guess you have your own problems to deal with. I don't blame you."

"What are you getting at?" She asked, not looking behind her but only up at Malfoy, towering over her.

"Nothing." He said. Looking back down at Hermione blankly. "I'll go."

"When?"

"Not tonight.."

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I'll go tomorrow night, promise." He said. "I don't want Snape on my ass anymore than he already is." He said, putting his hands in his robe pockets. Looking off to the side now.

"Deal."

"Deal?"

"Yes. Its a deal. You promised." Hermione said, looking at him with great seriousness.

Draco smirked and shook his head before looking back at Harry who was still watching them, ready to strike if Malfoy pulled anything. Hermione was still unaware that he was even there.

"Fine.. deal." He said softly.

Just before Hermione was about to walk off, Malfoy leaned down to her right ear, whispering, "I'll see you tomorrow night, then."

God, what shivers that gave her.

Before she knew it, Malfoy had disappeared. Leaving her there. Stunned.