He felt like an idiot. A bloody idiot. He was sure Hermione was angry with him for last night; he was angry at himself. But last night he had been so mad and hurt that he couldn't face perfect Hermione. She was so amazing, so sure of herself, so many things he wasn't. Theo had somehow pointed out every insecurity Draco had, and knowing that Hermione heard them all made him feel small. Looking back, he should have explained everything, but his pride had gotten in the way.
He plopped down next to Blaise the next morning at breakfast, but he had no appetite. He pushed his eggs around on his plate, glancing up at the Gryfindor table every few seconds.
Oh Merlin. He thought, when he noticed that Hermione was deep in conversation with the Weasley girl. They're probably talking about how big of a prat I was last night...
He was correct. Hermione was filling her best girl friend in on what happened the night before after they ran into Theo and Pansy. "I understand that he was mad, Ginny, but he shouldn't take it out on me. I'm not the one who said those horrible things."
Ginny nodded knowingly as she filled her goblet with pumpkin juice. "I'm sure that he feels bad about last night; just wait till he comes to you to apologize. I'm sure he will."
The rest of the day passed by slowly. They had Potions with the Slytherins, but Draco and Hermione had no chance to talk; Slughorn had assigned a complicated potion that caused the drinker to spontaneously grow feathers. However, after Neville spilled his caldron, the class found out that just a drop on your skin will have the same effect. Half the class, including Draco, was sent to the hospital wing to have their feathers removed.
After Potions, Hermione had a free period, then Charms. Both passed by sluggishly. Finally, dinner time came, and Hermione sat down across from Harry and Ron in the Great Hall. She served herself lamb chops, and then glanced at the Slytherin table. No Draco.
Maybe he's still having the feathers removed. She smiled. It was a little funny when they started popping out all over his arms…
"…and did you see Theo?" Ron interrupted her thoughts. "He had all these muti-colored feathers coming out of his-"
"Hey guys." Ginny sat down next to Hermione and started serving herself. The boys went back to discussing the excitement of Potions class, so Ginny took the opportunity to ask about Draco.
"Have you been able to talk to him yet?"
Hermione shook her head, and explained what happened in Potions class. Ginny nodded.
"I heard. It's kinda funny though…"
"Hermione, can we talk?"
The entire table looked up and stared. Draco Malfoy was asking Hermione to talk? Everyone knew they were on better terms then before, but everyone still gaped in surprise.
Draco didn't look at anyone else, but could feel everyone's eyes on him. She nodded, said a quick goodbye to Ginny, and followed him out of the hall. When they reached the hallway, Draco turned around.
"So. I…uh…" He shifted awkwardly.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him.
"I'm sorry." He blurted out. "I shouldn't have blown up on you last night. You weren't the one I was angry at. I know that I shouldn't let him affect me like that, but I-"
Hermione interrupted him with a kiss. "Draco, it's ok. I'm not mad."
Draco rested his forehead against hers, so relieved that she wasn't angry with him. "You're amazing, Hermione."
She kissed his cheek. "You're not too bad yourself."
Two days later, Draco was getting ready for the next Quidditch game of the season. "I feel like I'm forgetting something." Draco said, looking around his bedroom. He had his broom, his robes, his shoes...
"My gloves!" He ran over to his trunk and dug out his flying gloves and pulled them on while he walked over to Hermione, who was holding his broomstick.
She couldn't help but notice how his Quidditch uniform seemed to accentuate his muscles in all the right places. She blushed slightly.
"If you don't go now, you're going to be late!" Hermione playfully pushed him out the door. "Get down there, and kick some butt!"
Draco smiled, took his broom, and kissed her forehead. "You're going to come watch the match, right?"
She nodded. "I'll be down in a few minutes. I'm just going to finish my essay for Potions."
"That's not due for another two weeks! You're already finishing?"
"Yes. Now get out of here!" Hermione said with a laugh. He winked at her and disappeared out the door.
Hermione smiled after him, and then sat down at her desk. Finishing her paper would be difficult; her mind was already with Draco down at the Quidditch pitch. Slytherin was playing Hufflepuff, and it was bound to be an easy win for Draco and his team. She shook her head clear of thoughts of Draco and began to write.
"I know the weather isn't ideal for Quidditch, but I think it will give us an advantage." Draco said as his team glared at the heavy rain falling outside. "We're already stronger than Hufflepuff; this will give us even more leverage."
He looked around at his team, and smiled.
"I know I've been working you all hard this week, but your hard work is gonna pay off. I'm proud of this team, and you should be too. Let's get ready to kick some ass."
The team cheered at Draco's speech, then quieted. They were all getting in the zone. Draco closed his eyes, and took deep breaths. Blaise sang quietly to himself a song no one else knew. Another player paced back and forth, one did pushups on the locker room floor, their minds all focused on the match ahead.
Draco looked over at the new chaser for the Slytherin team, Jack Gellar. He was a small fifth year with a large nose. Theo was banned from Quidditch until further notice, according to Professor Slughorn, and Jack was the best player at try-outs that hadn't made the cut. Jack looked nervous, so Draco patted him on the shoulder. "You'll be fine, Jack."
While Draco and his team got ready for the match, Theo snuck quietly up to the fifth floor. He had watched Draco leave the common room, and knew that Hermione wasn't down at the Quidditch Pitch yet. He smiled to himself. He was going to give that Mudblood bitch what she deserved, and it was the perfect time. Draco would be preoccupied for a while.