Draco cursed for the second time as yet again he failed to find Hermione. She had disappeared from the corridor outside Remus' office when he'd finally taken Remus' advice and so had to guess where she could have gone to. Her bedroom and the library were both void of her presence. At his voice a passing professor stopped him.
"Mr Malfoy, I would expect better of you than such profanities. Whatever is the matter?"
He dipped his head in shame "my apologies headmistress McGonagall, I was trying to locate Hermione and am finding my fruitless search most frustrating."
Minerva eyed him wearily before, clearly having decided that his intentions towards one of her favourites were honourable, smiling and suggesting one last location Hermione may have gone to. Draco thanked her hurriedly and ran down the corridor, slowing to a brisk walk when McGonagall called out a light chastising remark to his retreating figure.
He drew short outside of his bedroom door and leant against the wall panting. Once he was slightly more composed he whispered his password and entered, feeling like an intruder in his own room. Sitting in the middle of the floor, with her back to him, was Hermione. She had picked up a book from his desk and was reading it. She was so absorbed that she didn't notice him enter the room, so he watched her for a while.
She tugged her hair absentmindedly as she read; pulling the curls out and releasing them to ping back into shape before repeating the process. He could see her biting her lip in concentration in the reflection of the mirror sat on his desk. Her face was still pale but better than it had been when they'd had to break into her bedroom, mostly thanks to Draco gently persuading her to go to Hogsmeade with him twice a month.
The first time they'd gone Ron had spent the walk there taunting Hermione, his catcalls getting cruder as Hermione refused to respond. Out of the corner of his eye, Draco could see Hermione trying not to cry. By the time they reached the entrance of the village Draco had had enough; he'd stopped immediately in front of Ron, causing the Weasley to bump into him and almost trip over. Before Ron had the chance to complain Draco had pulled out his wand and pressed it against Ron's bulging Adam's apple. "Leave her alone" he had growled before taking Hermione by the hand and pulling her away as fast as he could. The second Hogsmeade visit had gone much smoother.
"McGonagall must be a seer. We should tell Trelawnly; she'd have a field day."
Hermione started at Draco's words and looked up, catching his reflection in the mirror above her. She flushed as she realised that he'd clearly been there for a while. She put the book to one side and pushed herself up from the floor, slowly turning so that she was facing him. She smiled bashfully, "I couldn't help myself" she told him, referring to the book.
"Not a problem. My book is your book." Draco said easily, wondering how they could be talking about books of all things when there was some kind of ridiculous tension pressing against them it was so great. Then it struck him: denial.
Hermione was eyeing him warily, clearly wondering who was going to ask the hard question first. He decided to do it for her and hopefully make things easier. "So," he said, stepping towards her, "any particular reason you chose to hang out in my bedroom?"
"Any particular reason you were visiting Remus?" She returned.
Clearly asking first hadn't made things easier.
"I just needed to ask his advice on something" he replied smoothly.
She frowned. "And what exactly would that be?" She bristled at him.
He sighed, "You answer my question and I'll answer yours" he said, crossing his arms and watching her for a response of any kind.
Hermione bit her lip and mumbled something. When Draco raised his eyebrow and gestured for her to speak louder she half shouted at him "I wanted to see you." She stared at him sulkily for a few seconds before speaking again "your turn" she reminded him.
Draco sighed again. "I went to ask Remus for advice regarding a problem I was having" he said, trying to gather up enough courage to admit exactly what he had been discussing with their professor.
She raised an eyebrow at him sceptically "and what exactly was this problem?" She asked, somewhat snootily, as if she doubted the existence of this supposed problem.
Draco took a deep breath. It had to be now. He walked towards her until there was barely any space between them. Then, looking her directly in the eyes he gripped her arms and said "the problem was you" before pulling her to him and kissing her.
And much to his surprised delight, she didn't punch him.
o took a deep breath. It had to be now. He walked towards her until there was barely any space between them. Then, looking her directly in the eyes he gripped her arms and said "the problem was you" before pulling her to him and kissing her.
And much to his surprised delight, she didn't punch him.