CHAPTER EIGHT: A SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING
Hermione walked into Potions class the next day slightly cheerful. Draco was waiting for her by their cauldron, and Hermione was grateful that their potion, at least, would be successful. Draco did not greet her when she came up to him however, and only hesitatingly returned her smile when Professor Slughorn awarded them top marks after looking into their cauldron.
Class was dismissed, and Draco slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked out of the dungeons. Hermione threw a meaningful look at Harry, who understandably only looked confused when Hermione ran after Draco.
"Draco!" she said, slightly gasping for breath, "Is something wrong? You don't seem to-"
"Listen, Granger," he said, and stopped. "I get it. You hate me. You want nothing to do with me."
"Draco, wha-"
But Draco interrupted her, and a shrill voice emerged from him as he imitated her, "I'm disgusting, I'm vile, you've never hated anyone so much and this whole month was torture." He looked down at her, and said coldly, "You make me sick."
Hermione's mind swam frantically at what he had recited, and how he had known, and then she gasped, comprehension dawning on her face.
"You!" she shouted.
"Yes, me," Draco said evenly and started to walk again. But heat rushed to Hermione's face as she fumed and caught up with him.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" she said, and pushed him when he did not reply. "I asked you a question," Hermione shouted, and everyone in the hallway stopped to stare. "How dare you – you think you can trick me into getting something out of me? What did you expect me to say if I thought you were Harry? That you treated me like a queen?" Hermione shrieked with laughter.
"Listen to me," she continued, "I meant every word I said. You're cold, and unfeeling. And you'll never be anything more," she finished, "than a Malfoy," she spat.
"ALRIGHT, THEN FINE," Draco shouted back. It was the first time anyone had heard him raise his voice to that extent. "MAYBE NEXT TIME AFTER YOU SAY 'NO' TO ME YOU WON'T COME RUNNING AROUND LIKE SOME LITTLE MISS PERFECT, TRYING TO GET ME TO KISS YOU AND-"
"Have you lost your mind?" Hermione hissed and looked like she was ready to slap Draco across the face when Professor McGonagall intervened.
"It looks like you both have!" McGonagall said tartly, coming up to them, her robes billowing around her, "Starting a screaming match in the middle of the corridor! Miss Granger, I am disappointed. Detention for both of you tomorrow night at eight o'clock in the Divination tower, and be grateful I haven't taken away any house points!"
Hermione and Draco left in opposite directions, fuming, while Professor McGonagall tried to hush the whispers of the fascinated students in the corridor of the dungeons.