Chapter Six
The rest of the week passed by quickly for Hermione. She was getting more homework than ever in her classes, and her secret lessons with Malfoy were still going.
She was catching on to the spells fast enough that sometimes, Draco taught her two spells in a night.
Nobody had caught on to the fact that anything was going on either. Hermione and Draco still shot insults at each other in class and the halls, but Hermione had noticed a distinct decrease in Draco's insulting.
He was even becoming friendly during detentions. He would laugh when Hermione would do something funny, or make some type of comment. Hermione never thought she would see another side of Draco, but especially this side. Sometimes she thought about the fact that they probably could have been friends had they not been sorted into the two rival Houses.
Friday had rolled around, and Hermione had just finished executing a spell. When she was done, she and Draco sat down to take a break.
"So what are your plans for the weekend?" Hermione asked Malfoy, rubbing her wand arm. She had been a bit too enthusiastic with her last spell; and the question had just popped out.
Draco look surprised for a second, and then recovered.
"Not sure yet, Granger," He answered, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. "What about you?"
"Oh, I don't know yet," Hermione answered. "I'll probably catch up on my homework; hang out with Ron and Harry. I saw a poster on the notice board that the first Hogsmeade weekend is coming up in a couple of weeks."
Draco nodded his head. "Yeah just in time for our detentions to be over. We should celebrate." He said sarcastically.
Hermione perked up at that, completely missing the sarcasm. "What a great idea! What should we do?"
Draco looked surprised at this celebration he had unexpectedly started, and was now being sucked into. "Well, I'm not throwing you a party, if that's what you're asking." He said defensively.
Hermione got a hurt look on her face, but it was gone quickly. "That's not what I meant Malfoy." She defended herself. "I'll just celebrate with Ron and my other friends."
Later that night after detention was over, and Hermione was sitting in the common room by the fire, she started thinking back on her conversation with Malfoy. It wasn't that she was upset by his answer, but by how he had said it.
Over the past two weeks, she had been letting her guard down with him, and she knew he had done the same. There were a few times she had seen a true smile on his face when she executed a spell he had taught her.
Hermione shifted in her chair. "Why should I even care what he thinks anyways?" She thought angrily to herself. But she knew why. She was beginning to delight in and appreciate the moments when they could be relaxed around each other. When that happened, he was as fun to be around as her friends were.
At that moment, Ron stretched his arms out, wrapping one around her to draw her closer to him. Snapping out of her thoughts, Hermione looked up at him and smiled. Ron was a completely different story. He could always be relied on and trusted to be there. Just like a true friend should be.
Hermione frowned at that thought. Ron was definitely more than a friend. But then, he had never stated what they were, or wanted them to be.
She shook her head, snuggling into his embrace. It didn't matter; at least not right now. There was plenty of time to have that talk. For now, she would just enjoy it.
The weekend passed quickly enough, with a flurry of homework to be done – or in Ron and Harry's case, to be done by Hermione.
Monday came all too soon, and Hermione dreaded going to Potions. She hung around at the end of her Advanced Transfiguration class so long that McGonogall stopped her to ask what was wrong.
She walked down the stairs and into the Dungeons, sliding into her seat right as the class had started, and Snape walked in.
He walked to his desk and glared at her, but didn't say anything.
"Today, we will be starting a new project. I want everyone to pair up with your partners as I call them out." He started calling out names.
Hermione's heart sank. As she sat there listening to the names, she noticed only one other had not been called, besides hers.
Snape looked over at her as if he had read her mind, and smirked. "Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger. Pair up!" He barked.
She looked over at Draco, who didn't seem too concerned. Huffing a sigh, she grabbed all of her books and cauldron, setting them on Draco's worktable next to him.
"Morning, Granger," Draco said.
"Morning, Malfoy," Hermione answered back. "I'm surprised to find you so chipper in the morning."
"Chipper?" Draco responded. "Believe me, this isn't chipper."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say friendly." Hermione said frostily. "I've never seen you so friendly in the morning. Or anytime for that matter."
Draco looked down at her as she set out all the ingredients they would need. "Is that what the cold shoulder's for? I thought I was being rather friendly toward you every night when I was teaching you what I knew."
Hermione sighed. "Sorry. I'm just not used to hiding my friends, I guess."
Draco nodded as he poured water into his cauldron. "Yeah, I see your point. I didn't realize you regarded me so highly, Granger." He said teasingly.
Hermione rolled her eyes at him as he grinned down at her, causing her stomach to flutter. Clearing her throat, she quickly looked back down at the roots she was chopping.
"What was that?" She thought. She had never experienced it before with Ron. Any guy, really. Why did it have to be Malfoy who gave her butterflies? She groaned quietly to herself.
Hearing whispering behind her, she turned around and saw Lavender and Pavarti with their heads together, casting glances at her and Malfoy. When they saw her watching them, they immediately stopped and went back to their potion.
Draco was having a similar reaction of his own. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to tease Granger, but it was turning dangerously close into flirting. Why?" He thought. There's no need to flirt with the girl. Just stick to the potion."
His thoughts kept moving to her though, no matter how hard he tried. He was finally getting to know the girl behind the bushy hair and books, and he was actually starting to like her. She was funny, caring, and not to mention, really smart. She could actually keep up with him.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts.
Hermione reached for the cutting knife at the same time Draco did. Their hands bumped together, and Hermione felt a tingle go up her arm.
Blushing furiously, she dropped her hand, apologizing to him. "This is ridiculous!" She scolded herself. "You have a boyfriend; you do not need to be feeling this way!"
The rest of class went like that, with Hermione feeling confused and annoyed.
Once the bell let the class out, she packed up her things quickly, hoping to get out of there fast.
She made her way down to the Great Hall for lunch, and had just walked through the doors when she looked up and saw Lavender and Pavarti just walking away from where Ron and Harry were sitting. They walked down to the next section of people and sat down to spill their juicy gossip.
Harry and Ron looked her way, both red in the face.
She made her way to them, feeling like she was being put in front of a firing squad.
"What's wrong, guys?" She asked.
Ron looked like smoke was about to blow out of his ears. "Did you really just ask what was wrong? I just had to hear it from the two gossip queens of how you're flirting with Malfoy in Potions?"
Hermione's mouth gaped open. "What?"
Harry put his hand on Ron's shoulder to help him stay calm. "Lavender and Pavarti came to let us know how you and Malfoy were touching hands, and talking and you blushing about it like crazy! Care to explain?" He asked accusingly.
Hermione remembered to shut her mouth. "That is absurd! I have never flirted with him!"
Ron glared at her. "Then why would those two come running in here and telling us you were?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "Well if you want to believe those two over your own girlfriend, then so be it!" She yelled, gaining the attention of half of the Hall.
She stood up and grabbed her book bag, and proceeded to stomp out of the Great Hall and up to her dormitory. A few minutes later, she heard knocking on the door.
She ignored it, hoping it would go away. Then she heard Ginny's voice through the door.
"Hermione, I know you're in there, so open up!" Ginny shouted.
Hermione groaned into her pillow and heaved herself off the bed. Opening the door, Ginny came in and sat on Hermione's bed with her.
"So what happened? Harry wouldn't say anything, and Ron was too upset to utter a word." Ginny asked.
Hermione shrugged. Finally, she slumped down in defeat, and broke down. "Lavender and Pavarti told them that I was flirting with Malfoy in Potions today."
Ginny narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Well, were you?" She asked.
Hermione gaped at her. "No! Of course not!"
"Well I wouldn't blame you if you were. Malfoy is one hot specimen of the male gender." Ginny said.
"What?" Hermione couldn't believe her ears. "You really think Malfoy is hot?"
Ginny shrugged. "Well sure, yeah. He's come a long way from being a wimpy second year."
Hermione looked closely at Ginny. "I can see your point. He can be very…attractive at times. When he's not being a slimy git."
Ginny winked at her. "Well, if I were in your shoes, I'd be taking advantage of a month long detention with him, if you know what I mean."
Hermione giggled. After some fast thinking she said, "If I tell you something, will you swear never to tell anyone?"
Ginny nodded, "I swear."
Hermione took a deep breath, wondering if she should continue.
Noticing the hesitation, Ginny shook her head. "You better tell me, I already swore I'd take it to the grave!"
Hermione swallowed. "All right. During detentions, Malfoy has been teaching me spells. Like, higher level spells." She sighed, remembering. "It's been amazing, really, Ginny. They're powerful spells. Moreover, Malfoy is an amazing teacher too! He corrects me when I'm wrong, but in a nice way, and he always makes sure he doesn't go too far."
Ginny just looked at her. Then her eyes widened suddenly, and she gasped. "Oh Merlin, Hermione! You like Malfoy! You like him!"
Hermione shook her head. "No I don't! That is ridiculous! I cannot believe you would think that! No, no, he has just become a friend during detentions, and that is all. Nothing has changed outside of that." She rubbed her cheeks that she was sure were bright red.
"You're in such denial. What about Ron! He already thinks you've been flirting with him." Ginny said.
"For the last time, I am not flirting with him! I just like him as a person, and that is it." Hermione said firmly.
"Denial." Ginny argued. "Besides, I saw the way he was looking at you today in lunch."
"What? How?" Hermione asked.
"Why would you care if you didn't like him?" Ginny asked.
Hermione just sat back and stared at her. "Fine. Maybe a little. But you cannot tell anyone! Especially Ron, it'll hurt him too badly."
"Do you like my brother as much as you think you do?" Ginny questioned. "Or do you think it was more a match of convenience?"
Hermione groaned in frustration. "I don't know anymore, Gin. I mean, I thought Ron was perfect for me! But then Draco brushed my hand during Potions, and I feel tingles from it all the way up my arm! I've never had that happen with Ron." She covered her face with her hands, and then looked over at Ginny. "What do I do?"
Ginny thought for a minute. "Do what feels right. If you want Malfoy more, go for him. Just think on it. Don't stay with Ron just because he's safe or you're comfortable enough with it. He is still my brother after all, and I won't have him being hurt. By anyone." She finished with a smile.
"Thanks Ginny, for the talk. You've helped me out." Hermione said.
"No problem. Let me know what you decide." Ginny slid off the bed and left.
Hermione flopped back on her pillows and sighed. She couldn't believe she was in the middle of this dilemma.
Luckily, the afternoon went by fast for Hermione. All of her afternoon classes seemed like a breeze compared to her morning ones.
Dinner was another ordeal, though. Hermione was still upset at Ron and Harry from earlier, and refused to sit with them. Instead, she sat at the other end of the table with Seamus and Neville.
She ignored Harry's and Ron's looks at her from down the table. What did they think she was, a pushover? She purposefully turned her back to them and turned back to the others, who were talking about their classes.
Once dinner was over, Hermione headed upstairs to their detention classroom. Draco was already there, sitting on a desk with his feet in a chair.
Hermione walked to the chair next to his, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. It seemed like since she had admitted to Ginny that she liked him, that all of a sudden she was just aware of him.
Draco had watched her walk in, trying to ignore the fact that his heart was speeding up just by the sight of her. "Damn it." He sighed to himself. These feelings were getting out of hand, but he felt powerless to stop them.
He cleared his throat and got up. "Test time Granger." He said. "We're at the halfway mark now. It's time to see what you've learned."
Hermione nodded. "Okay. I think I'm ready."
Draco hopped down from the desk he was sitting on and walked towards her, taking up the first position of dueling. "You can't think you're ready Granger, you just have to be ready."
Hermione nodded and raised her wand to duel. They bowed to each other, and then there were curses and hexes flying everywhere.
Draco and Hermione were running around the classroom, using desk and chairs to block the other's spells.
A rebounding spell hit Hermione on the upper arm, cutting it wide open. Surprisingly, she didn't even notice. She was letting herself sink into the spells, letting them take her over in a way that had never happened before. It was a complete power rush and Hermione was getting a high off it.
She rushed out from behind a pillar and ran towards Draco, taking him by surprise. She shot spell after spell at him, causing him to back up and put up shield spells.
Finally, Draco gave in. "I yield, Granger." He shouted, formally ending the duel.
Hermione stopped and lowered her wand, breathing heavily. The adrenaline from the dark spells she was using was still rushing through her. She stared at Draco, who stared right back at her.
"Wow," she finally said, collapsing into a chair near her. "That was…"
"Unbelievable?" Draco finished for her, sitting next to her. "I can still feel the power of the spells going through me. "It feels…"
"Unbelievable?" Hermione laughed, finishing his sentence. "I know what you mean. It's such a rush! I actually want to do it again."
"Maybe you should get your arm fixed first, Granger." Draco pointed at her upper arm, where the cut on it was still bleeding steadily.
Hermione looked down at her right arm. "You're right. I didn't even realize I was hurt." She took her wand with her left hand and held it up to her right arm awkwardly. "Damn. How am I supposed to heal this?"
Draco took her arm gently with his hands. "Here, let me help."
Hermione looked at him, surprised. This was probably the nicest she had ever seen him be, to anyone.
"Okay," she said.
Draco took his wand back out of his pocket and placed a healing charm on her cut, gently moving the wand over it. Once it was done, he rubbed his thumb across it, and looked up at her.
Hermione just looked back at him, unable to say anything. Her feelings for him came flooding back to her, making her cheeks turn red.
Draco himself wasn't sure what was happening. He had never really felt this way about a girl before. And to have it happen with this girl, of all of them! What was wrong with him? His father would be furious. At the moment though, Draco didn't care what his father would think. He wanted Hermione.
He leaned in towards her, not thinking about what he was about to do.
Hermione's breath hitched. Was he about to kiss her?
Unfortunately, she didn't find out, as the bell rang, signaling the end of their detention.
They both jumped at the noise, having forgotten for a moment where they were.
Draco cleared his throat, and sat back. They sat there for a minute, just staring at each other, unsure of how to proceed.
"Well, um, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then," Hermione said, mentally kicking herself for being a coward. It wasn't as easy as Ginny put it, juts "going for him". What would everyone think? She wasn't even sure what she thought of it, all she knew was that she was attracted to him, maybe more than she initially thought.
Draco nodded and stood up. "All right Granger. Tomorrow, then." He turned around and left, wanting to be alone with his thoughts.
Hermione let out a huge breath she hadn't even realized she was holding and rubbed her face. She groaned loudly, frustrated at the situation she had now found herself in. She couldn't deny it to herself anymore – she wanted Malfoy.
She made her way to the moving staircases, and proceeded up to the seventh floor. What was she going to do? How would she break it to Ron? Of course, she would have to cut things off with Ron. It was obvious to her now that Malfoy affected her much stronger than Ron did. Hell, he affected her at all! Ron didn't make her blush, or make her skin tingle where he brushed against it. He didn't give her butterflies at all.
Hermione sighed, making her way to the Fat Lady's portrait. This was awful. It was all Malfoy's fault anyway! He was the reason they were in detention in the first place. She felt good feeling something else about Malfoy.
Hermione let herself in the common room after the Fat Lady had opened up her portrait. Ron was waiting for her on the couch.
He jumped up when he saw her and ran over to her, running his fingers nervously through his hair.
"Hermione, can we talk?" Ron asked desperately. "I'm really sorry; I was a complete dunderhead about things. I should've believed you about the whole Malfoy thing. I know there's nothing going on with you and that git."
Hermione just looked at him, feeling miserable inside. Any spark of feeling she had had for Ro was gone now. Ever since she had realized her feelings for Malfoy, he was all she could think about now.
Hermione shook her head at Ron. "I'm sorry, Ron, but I just can't deal with this right now. I'm too tired from detention to do anything but go to bed."
Ron looked crestfallen at her answer. "But we're still okay, aren't we? Hermione?"
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, we're fine." She turned away from him and made her way up the stairs to the girl's dormitories. She wasn't sure how long she could go on lying to him, though.
She took a hot bath, soothing away her aches from her earlier duel. Then, getting out, she made her way to her bed and lay down.
Her mind wouldn't stop working, and it was quite some time later that she finally fell asleep.
A/N: I'm SOOO sorry! I'm still working on the story, don't think I've forgotten about it! Please read and review!