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Chapter Three

Over the next couple weeks Hermione hadn't seen Malfoy after the Pansy escapade in the great hall. It was all anyone could talk about, it was driving Hermione insane. How could one relationship matter so much to the entire student body? But then again this was Malfoy the 'Slytherin prince' we were talking about. Everyone made it their business to know his relationship status. Girls all over Hogwarts buzzed about him being single again. Rumors had spread that they broke up because there was another girl in the picture. Other's said it was because he didn't want to be tied down. Hermione didn't pay attention to the rumors. In a way Hermione couldn't help but feel sorry for Pansy. No one seemed to feel bad for her; in fact, most girls were glad that they broke up so they could have a go at him. Even the girls in her own house didn't seem to pity her; they were only concerned that Malfoy was now available. It almost made Hermione sick. Didn't anyone have their own lives to gossip about? She thought about the last time she must have seen Malfoy. He hadn't bothered to show up to the last two lessons of Defense Against the Dark Arts so it left her a table completely to herself, which was probably for the best.

Hermione couldn't help but think back to the other day when she overheard a conversation among some Slytherin girls.

"Is it just me or has Draco become even more attractive this year? It's like he's been perfected," She said to her friends.

"Yes! Who hasn't noticed? He's dreamy. If I had him I'd never want again," She said with a laugh.

"I know right?" Another piped in, "I mean come on everyone has noticed. He's like a God."

"Do you think it's true? Do you think he likes another girl?" The black haired one asked.

The one with the high pitch laugh responded, "If it is she is one lucky girl. Who wouldn't want him?"

Hermione didn't hear anymore as the group of girls walked in the other direction, their voices fading out.

However much it pained her to admit, she caught herself thinking about him just as much as the rest of the school. Although she had different reasons then just his break up. She would be listening in class one moment and then the next a blonde boy would creep into her thoughts unexpectedly. She was becoming more and more obsessed with him the longer she hadn't seen him. What in the heck was wrong with her? Why did she have to force him from her mind? She hated him; she hated him with every fiber of her being. Why did she keep having this feeling like she wanted to see him, be near him? It was completely insane.

Malfoy wasn't the only thing on her mind that was worrying her. Her physical appearance was still the same as it was the first morning of school. She not only was more beautiful, but she also felt herself getting physically stronger and faster. The other day she was making a potion with another student and her partner had almost knocked over the entire contents of their potion. Although the cauldron was huge and Hermione a tiny girl herself, she quickly grabbed the cauldron and saved it. The Professor was beyond impressed and grateful to Hermione that she had saved the potion. Another time Hermione was walking down the corridor and caught a girl from tripping down the stairs. Hermione used to be the clumsy one, but now she seemed to have super human reflexes.

Boy's stares were becoming more and more unnerving. She wished Ron was here to at least let them think she was taken. She was seen alone all too often and she wished that she almost had someone just so they would stop looking at her like she was a piece of meat. Anger almost took over her sometimes as she glared at them while they finally would avert their eyes.

She felt like she ought to talk to someone about it, but who? She couldn't tell Ron or Harry, they would go crazy and try to convince her to quit school again. Her parents wouldn't understand. They would have no idea how to help her. She loved them but she couldn't rely on them for this one. Who was she supposed to talk to? She didn't feel close enough to anyone to ask them.

In the meantime, she kept herself locked away in the library most days trying to keep her mind off of everything. Concentrating on her school work seemed like the only way to keep herself sane. It was times like this that she missed Harry and Ron. They would be able to keep her mind off of stupid things like obsessing too much over homework and Malfoy. She could watch them play wizards chess and see Ron's gleeful face as he beat Harry once again. Ron... She missed him. She wrote him a letter a few days ago to update him on everything that's been going on. Well, she left out the part of Malfoy and all of that.

Ginny had been missing Harry terribly, so much so she hadn't really even took notice Hermione's change of appearance. They wrote each other every other day keeping in close contact. Poor Gin, Hermione thought. She was having a much harder time than Hermione was. It wasn't easy when your boyfriend was so far away. She already had to be separated from him for a year before as we went looking for the horxcux's. Hermione admired them for their love for each other. They were meant for each other that much she knew. She wished that kind of relationship for herself.

Hermione sighed as she now currently was headed to another lesson in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was a dark gloomy day outside. Rain pounded on the windows as she walked through the corridors with busy students buzzing about to their own classes. Hermione had to suppress the excitement that was rising in her chest. Defense Against the Dark Arts was becoming her favorite class. She wished that her reason could be different from the other girls, but she knew it was because of their new Professor.

Professor Stroud and Hermione hadn't spoken to each other one on one since her first day of class. But Hermione couldn't help but feel some sort of connection to him. Countless times when the class would be silently working she would look up and find his eyes on her. Other times he would ask her to come to the front of the class to help him demonstrate spells or jinxes. She couldn't help but notice how mysterious he was. He didn't talk much about himself or his own personal experiences in class; he kept strictly to the content of the teaching material. Hermione felt herself becoming very fond of him. She wasn't sure it was healthy to think of him like that but then again every girl in her class would probably be guilty of the same thing.

She pushed the door open as she walked into the class room. She was expecting the seat next to her to be empty once again. But to her surprise it wasn't. She felt her heart skip a beat. Malfoy was back.

It was then Hermione felt herself get a strange feeling. She felt as if something had just awakened inside of her as she looked at him. Hermione felt the stress and worry of the past weeks melt away. She found herself being drawn to him. Like an insect to a light she couldn't make herself look away. Hermione shook her head trying to come back to reality. Something wasn't right here. She hated him, she loathed him. She used to secretly hope that he would get killed in the war so the Malfoy line could no longer exist. Now she felt drawn to him. She couldn't get him out of her mind since that day on the train.

Her eyes narrowed, something was going on and Malfoy had something to do with it. It had to be, all these things started happening to her after she saw him on the train.

She recovered from the shock of seeing him and marched over to him.

Malfoy felt her presence as he looked up from his desk and saw her for the first time in two weeks. His wolf that had been silent was now fully awake, his heart pumping with energy. He felt his wolf long to be close to her, to touch her. He had to do everything in his power to stay still in his seat.

Hermione took the seat next to him and scooted her chair so close that they were millimeters away from touching. Malfoy thought he could handle this, but her sent filled his lungs as she sat down. He had to use every ounce of self-control as he clenched his fits.

Hermione couldn't help but notice how tense he got when she sat down purposely close to him. She saw him avert his eyes and his hand clench. Was he feeling the same things she was? It peaked her interest.

"Where have you been?" She asked simply looking at him intently observing him.

He took a deep breath to help him calm down but it only filled her sent with his lungs more.

"I went home for a couple of weeks," He managed to get out.

Hermione's eye brows furrowed, she wasn't expecting that.

"Really? Why?" She asked curiosity getting the best of her.

He paused for a moment as though it was painful to respond, "I had some family issues I had to take care of."

"On your mother's side?" Hermione questioned.

Malfoy's handsome eyes finally met hers as they snapped toward hers. She took a sharp breath in. Malfoy's eye had a ring of silver around his cornea; it was almost glowing, having an animal like resemblance to them. She had seen that before. Where had she seen that before?

Malfoy heard her sharp intake of breath as he looked her in the eye. She was beautiful of course, more so than even the last time he saw her. He had to stay in control. His eyes grew fierce.

"Why would you assume it's my mother's side?" Malfoy said.

Hermione knew that she had hit a nerve but she couldn't back out now. What was happening to her had something to do with Malfoy, she just knew it. Her body was telling her to trust him when her mind was telling her to scream and run the other way.

"No reason, just curious," She lied in a soft voice.

Hermione saw his eyes narrow unbelievingly. She paused for a moment wondering if she should bring up with Professor Stroud shared with her, but she decided against it. She had something else on her mind.

"Could you not sit so close Granger," He said coldly hoping she would take the bait and scoot away so he wouldn't feel like coming out of his skin.

Hermione was about to snap back but she saw someone approaching them.

Malfoy waited for a response but he finally realized someone was standing at their desk. He finally looked up to see the reason. Professor Stroud was looming over both of them. His powerful eyes resting solely on Malfoy.

Malfoy's wolf immediately changed into defense mode. His eyes quickly analyzing him closely. He was tempted to say a snide comment about interrupting them but he restrained himself. His wolf did not like this Professor at all. Malfoy was sure that he didn't like him either.

"Mr. Malfoy, so glad that you could join us," He said in a bold voice smiling slightly, "I'm sorry to hear that you were ill. We were concerned when we received your mother's letter but I'm glad to see that you are feeling better," He said with a smile.

Malfoy didn't smile back, "Yeah me too."

Hermione's eyes furrowed. He had been ill? But he just said it was family stuff? But the Professor interrupted her thoughts.

"Miss Granger can catch you up on everything you need to know. You are fortunate to have a partner like her, she's quite the talented witch," Professor Stroud said.

She felt her cheeks burn at the complement.

Hermione didn't know how but she could almost feel Malfoy's rage. He looked up at Professor Stroud like he had just given him an insult. Hermione could feel the tension between them already. She felt herself grow uncomfortable, what was wrong with these two? They had barely met and they already sounded like they hated each other.

Malfoy said nothing waiting for him to leave.

"Alright class settle down," He said a little louder, as he walked away from their desk, "Let's get started."

Hermione felt Malfoy relax next to her as the Professor walked away.

"Come on everyone take your seats. We have a lot to cover today," His silky voice rang through the room.

Everyone went instantly silent sitting down. The girls in the class room looked at him longingly as he began introducing their next topic for the class period.

Hermione sat throughout the rest of the class period oblivious to the fact the Malfoy was on the verge of self-destruction. His insides were tearing him apart from being this close to her. Not being able to touch her was like trying to breathe in an altitude with no oxygen.

Hermione from the corner of her eye occasionally snuck a glance or two at Malfoy and his beautiful face. Her mind wandered to what his lips might feel like on hers. Hermione suddenly stopped herself, no way, she wasn't going there. But she realized it was too late, she already had.

She finally looked over at Malfoy not trying to be discrete. He was looking right back at her. She felt her heart melt at his gorgeous eyes.

Malfoy was trapped. She was sitting right there next to him, all of her attention on him. This was the moment the wolf was waiting for, Tell her! his wolf screamed at him.

He tried to suppress the urge when he heard Hermione whisper something to him.

"Are you alright Malfoy?" Hermione asked not being able to hide her curiosity any more.

It took everything in Malfoy not to go on and blurt out the biggest secret of his existence. He couldn't lie to her, his wolf wouldn't let him. So Malfoy just stared at her, fighting a battle inside of him that was raging like an untamed fire.

"I'm... I'm fine Granger," He said as his wolf almost broke through but he shut his mouth in defiance, this was not the way he wanted to tell her. He didn't want to want her. He didn't want any of this.

"Obviously not, Malfoy you're shaking," She said concerned.

"I said I'm fine Granger, maybe if you gave me some space I could breathe some un intoxicated air," He whispered scolding her.

Her eyes narrowed at him, "What is wrong with you?"

He rolled his eyes, "You have an annoying habit of asking stupid questions lately," He said wishing that he could escape.

But she had him trapped, and she wasn't giving up.

"Look it's obvious something is going on here, just tell me what it is," She said not caring that she wasn't being discrete anymore.

His eyes met hers challenging her, "Who says I have to tell you anything."

Hermione couldn't believe him, "Because I deserve to know," She said a little too loudly because heads started to turn to them.

"Are we interrupting you Miss Granger?" A loud voice boomed from the front of the class room making Hermione jump. She finally turned away from Malfoy finally taking in her surroundings and noticing how many eyes were on her. Especially the Professors.

His eyes were piercing into hers as she fumbled for words like a fool.

"I uh, No Professor," She said looking down ashamed unable to bear his gaze.

The class room was dead silent for a moment as Hermione kept her eyes on her desk not daring to look at the Professors dominant ones.

Hermione heard footsteps coming closer and closer to her until they were right next to her desk. She still didn't look up.

It was then that the sweet aroma of the Professor filled her lungs making her insides squirm from his close proximity. She felt the Professor lean down towards her, stopping close to her ear, she didn't move a muscle.

"Ten points from Gryffindor and detention. Tonight after sun down. In my office," He said in such a low voice that it sent shivers up her spin.

He then quickly straightened his shoulders. Hermione finally got the courage to look up at him expecting to see a scowl on his face. But to her surprise his face was calm and smooth; she couldn't make out any hint of anger or annoyance.

"Alright class, I think that's enough for today. Since I seem to be boring you lot," He looked pointedly at Hermione, "I want you all to get a head start on your chosen topic to research and I expect a great amount of effort on this as it will be a large portion of your final grade."

With that everyone started to gather up there things as chatter filled the room, finally taking their attention off of Hermione and the Professor.

Hermione turned and rounded on Malfoy.

"Where are you going?" She asked scolding him watching him gather his books.

He glared at her, "I'm going to my next class to get away from you, what does it look like?"

He stood up to move around her but she blocked his way out.

"You're not going anywhere Malfoy, you just got me landed in detention," She said hotly.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed, "No you got yourself landed in detention because of your loud mouth."

He tried to move past her but she stepped in front of him.

She sighed as she tried a different approach desperate.

"Malfoy," She said surprisingly in a very soft calm voice, putting aside her pride, "Please," She begged, "If you have any idea about what's happening to me... tell me."

He looked at her for a moment truly sorry that he was hurting her once again. She hated him but he admired that she was still able to ask him for help. She was a smart witch. She would find out soon what he was and what that meant for her, even if he wasn't the one to tell her. He knew he needed to tell her but to be honest he didn't know if he could handle the rejection that was sure to come. Hermione would never want him. Heck, she didn't want to even be his stupid desk partner. He didn't want this either, but it was happening. He couldn't do this now, not here.

"I don't know what you're talking about Granger," He said coldly stepping past her.

Hermione did nothing to stop him as he passed her, his musky smell feeling her lungs.

Malfoy passed her and instantly regretted looking into her eyes as his did so, his wolf was threatening to surface. He had to get out of there now. Any more time spent here was just asking for his wolf to tare him apart at any moment.

"I gotta go," He said quickly making sure not to touch her as he did.

"Malfoy-" Hermione began but he was already gone.

Hermione groaned as she ran her hands through her thick hair. She wanted to pull all of her hair out in that moment. He was hiding something and he wouldn't tell her even when she confronted him! She was going to get to the bottom of this. Whether he agreed to help her or not. She was determined to find out.

She grabbed her things and shoved them into her bag as she made her way to the library. She rounded the corner still lost in her thoughts as she trailed behind some of her classmates. She was doing her best to ignore them when she heard her name spoken among them. Hermione's interest peaked as she listened. They didn't know she was behind them.

"Did you see the way he looked at those two?" One of them said. Hermione recognized her as a girl from Gryffindor, "He looked like he was going to kill them. His eyes kept going back to them at least twenty times as he was talking. It wasn't until Hermione's voice raised did he finally say something."

"I know! But why was Hermione the only one to get detention? Malfoy was talking just as much as she was," A boy said, she recognized that was a year younger than her.

"It's obvious," The girl said, "He favor's her. He seemed like he was a little too happy to have a reason to give her detention. Haven't you notice how he always picks her for everything? Why would he give his favorite student detention?"

"I thought I was the only one!" The dark haired girl said, "I've noticed that too,"

"Can you blame him? I don't know what happened to Hermione over the summer but she is the most gorgeous girl I've seen in my life, every single guy in Hogwarts wants her for themselves," The boy said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Even a Professor like him is bound to notice a girl like that."

"If you two are right Hermione is one blessed girl," The dark haired girl said, "She already has Malfoy's attention and now she has the new hot Professor's? I gotta get me some of that love potion she's made," She said jokingly.

The group laughed as Hermione had heard enough as she stopped in her tracks as they continued walking their voices drowning out down the hall.

Hermione had to lean against the stone wall for support before she fell over. Her hand went to her head not being able to comprehend what she had just heard. Was that all true? Was their Professor favoring her? She had been so caught up in herself and Malfoy she hadn't bothered to pay attention to anyone else. Her heart started pounding as she realized the truth in their words. Now that she thought about it, their Professor did favor her. But a lot of teachers did, Hermione was a good student. She thought that this was nothing different.

Hermione couldn't decide how she should feel. She found him attractive of course but she never thought that he might have similar feelings. She was a student and he was a Professor. It was just something that didn't happen. But it was happening, and Hermione couldn't help the little girl inside of her feel weak in the knees. You like him admit it, part of her said. But the logical side protested, Hermione, he's your PROFESSOR, not your friend pull yourself together. She felt an internal war rage within herself. What was she going to do? She had to be alone with him tonight for who knows how many hours. How was she supposed to act when she knew this now? But you don't know anything for sure, she told herself, you just overheard other students.

Hermione's head spun as suddenly, she got a grip. She was Hermione Granger, the smartest witch of her age. She was going to find out for herself. Hermione was going to find out the truth.

Tonight.

Hermione walked to detention in anticipation. She knew that she should be upset that she had detention. It would be normal to feel angry and picked on. If it had been any other time, she would feel like she was walking a plank sentencing her to the sharks. However, to her surprise, she didn't feel any of that. It was if she almost felt... excited. Which she knew was not normal. She tried to think of a way out of this, but it was detention. She could be expelled if she didn't show up for detention. She was not coming back her last year to only get expelled. She had no choice but to just get this over with.

The door to his office was shut as she started at it for a moment. She took a deep breath. Ok Hermione, relax you can do this. You can be charming. She shook her head as she decided to stop talking to herself and just knock. Her small hand finally moved up to the door and knocked on it softly.

She paused for a moment only hearing her heart beating loudly before she heard a deep voice, "Come in."

Here goes nothing.

Hermione opened the door to his office and quickly stepped inside. Quietly and slowly she closed the door behind her turning around. She couldn't help but take a little time observe the room. It was a large office, bigger than she had remembered it being. It was fairly simply decorated. A few rare artifacts could be seen on a wooden cabinet with see through a glass windows. The next thing she noticed was the pictures on the wall. He had a lot of photographs in different places. Always with a group of friends or by himself. She didn't see a single picture with a girl which surprised her. There were a couple of girls in the group photos but none of them were ever beside him. There was a particular picture where he stood on top of a wintery mountain with a couple of attractive friends besides him.

"You can come in Miss Granger," He said kindly lifting her heart as she finally noticed him sitting at his desk, "I don't bite."

Hermione felt her cheeks grow warm as she walked toward him slowly.

"I'm sorry I was just looking at a picture, is that Mt. Everest?" Hermione asked curious gesturing at the picture.

He smiled as Hermione heart melted a little, "It is indeed. You know it?"

Hermione nodded, "Yeah my parents are pretty big outdoor fans."

"What about you?" He said standing up making Hermione feel small, "Do you like the outdoors?"

Hermione couldn't help but smile a little, "Are you kidding? With parents like mine I have too."

"I think we found something we have in common," He said almost laughing like something she just said amused him.

Hermione said nothing, just glowing inside from his attention being fully on her.

His eyes grew more serious as he looked at her in silence for a moment, "Do you know why your here Granger?"

Hermione could sense a lecture coming on, "Because I was talking in class."

His eyes stayed intently on her, "That's part of it," He said as he started to walk around his desk coming closer to her, "You keep disturbing my class, I talked to you on the first day of class that I wouldn't allow for it."

Hermione's eyes looked downward; he now was standing directly in front of her a few feet away.

"Yes you did, I'm sorry Professor," She said her classmates words getting washed away from her mind. Nothing they said was true. His words had just confirmed it.

"Now don't look so worried," He said as he gave her a small smile, "Detention with me isn't so bad; I just need your help with something."

Hermione nodded her head, "Of course."

"Well Granger it's a good thing you like the outdoors," He said as he turned around to grab something off of his desk. When he turned back around he held two brown bags, "Because we are going to be Oyster hunting."

He held out a bag for Hermione to take as she looked at him unbelievably, "Oyster hunting?"

His handsome face spread on into a crooked grin, "Yes oyster hunting. But these are no ordinary oysters Granger. They glow in the dark at night which makes them easier to find. You see they possess a lot of magical qualities for medical purposes. Madam Pomfry requested that I get some so that she can restock her supply."

Hermione finally reached out and took the bag. His smile only grew at her confused look.

"Where are we supposed to find those?" Hermione said.

He answered her question as he looked out the window. She followed his eyes.

"The black lake?" Hermione said surprised.

"That would be the place," He said a little too cheerfully.

She gave him another confused look, "But you said they glow in the dark. I've never seen anything glow in that water."

He shook his head, "I thought you were supposed to be the brightest witch of you age?" He said with a smirk. Was he flirting with her?

Hermione decided to play along as she gave him a small laugh, "That's the rumor."

He laughed as his eyes lit up; Hermione felt butterflies in her stomach.

"Come on, I'll show you," He said, "I hope you're not afraid of getting wet," He said slyly as he walked past her toward the door.

Hermione gave him a curious look pausing for a moment as he headed toward the door. Was this really her punishment? Going oyster hunting? She decided that she wasn't going to complain as she turned around to follow him.

He already had the door open.

She almost had walked through the door before he suddenly stopped her putting his arm on her shoulder. She looked up at him as she felt her shoulder light on fire. Instantly she regretted her choice to look up into his green eyes. It took her by surprise as she felt his sweet breath on her face. Hermione couldn't help but want to lean into him.

"Wait its cold," He said as if he just remembered something, he reached for a coat that hung on a large brass hook, "You can borrow this," He said sweetly.

She came back to her senses as she took the black coat, "Thank you."

He smiled sweetly at her as she walked out the door with Professor Stroud following closely behind her.

Evil cliff hanger :) What did you think? Tell me your thoughts, Thanks for reading!