Sighing loudly for the umpteenth time, the Head Girl put her parchments aside, charms essay done. Her mind, while whirring overwhelmingly with the whys and why nots of Draco Malfoy, somehow spurred her efficiency to soaring new levels these days.
And now, with no work left to do, she was worrying about what might be happening on his round with Padma Patil. Disgusted with the number of times she thought of the blond, the young girl picked her mug of hot chocolate and carried it to the armchair next to the crackling fire.
Annoying Malfoy who paraded around Hogwarts like an actual human being since September. Taller, leaner, more muscular, Head Boy and Slytherin seeker, he was the perfect poster boy. Add in the Slytherin authoritative figurehead, as Slughorn did not ooze of charisma like her counterpart, and all the girls seemed to go crazy about him. He was as reformed as it could get. Helping the few little first years find their way around, carrying Professor Sinistra's books to class, Malfoy was certainly threatening her position as teacher's pet and first of the class. She was seriously attracted.
Hermione took an appreciative sip from her mug and recalled the conversation she'd had with Ginny a few weeks ago.
"If he's never brought a girl around, then why don't you make a move?" her red-haired friend had pestered her endlessly.
"I am not so desperate Ginny. I want to know what he thinks or feels before I make a fool of myself."
"Well, for that you need to try to get to know him, and that excludes Head duties."
"And how do you propose I do that? I have never approached a guy before Gin," she confessed dejectedly.
"Just show him that you are interested in spending more time with him. Go to classes together, take a walk…by Godric, you could even get him a Valentine's gift and that would get the message across loud and clear."
"What if he's not interested?"
"Then forget him and move on, which will hurt less than if Padma makes a move before you."
"You noticed too?"
"Everyone has," Ginny said amused, "Malfoy has changed and people here have had to acknowledge that. I regret wasting time before Harry, Mione. Don't make my mistakes. We didn't fight a war and survive for nothing."
Her friend's remark played in her mind a couple more times. Hermione sighed and hoped her plan will work tonight.
She drew her feet under her, placed her mug on the floor and settled down to wait for him.
Malfoy had a strong character too, she admitted to herself. She admired that now and his cleverness and dedication. He challenged her and kept her on her toes. At the same time, he had a calmness around him whereas she tended to go down the fiery path. It was a dynamic Hermione had never dreamt of finding with someone before. Could she be begrudged for wanting more? She only hoped that somehow, she had manged to captivate this attention. There were times when she could swear his actions towards her extended past the limits of friendship. But Draco Malfoy was hardly the type to ambush girls behind tapestries and have his wicked way with them. Even before the war, the girls would all gush about the fancy and refined dates the Slytherins would plan and curse the immaturity of the boys from all the other houses.
After the first few awkwardly silent days, the Head Boy had waited for her in their common room and has proceeded to apologize for his behaviour in their earlier days. He had acknowledged his wrongdoings towards her and expressed his want to right them. The whole ordeal had been so mature that it had left the young girl speechless. They had then slowly become civil during the first weeks, adjusting to living together and sharing space.
Christmas had been the crux. By then, Malfoy had won the grudging acceptance from her friends and proved to everyone that he was out to change. The festivities brought some cheer and familiarity to their routine and after the holidays, after he had sent her a tiny square of parchment wishing her a good Christmas with her parents, she had had no defenses against Draco Malfoy.
But one month into the new year, that had been it. The stupid boy barely even talked to her nor looked her way these days. That was precisely what was eating at her. How was a girl to know if her advances would be accepted or not? And on pure self-preservation and pride, Hermione did not want to be rejected. To hell with Gryffindor courage, she thought as a yawn escaped her lips…
Meanwhile, Draco entered the Head's dorm and closed his eyes briefly, thanking Merlin for Fridays. He had been thinking about taking that nice long shower to wash the sweat from Quidditch practice all throughout his patrol.
After that, he reckoned he could put two or three hours work on Flitwick's essay. He was sure Hermione must have the reference books lying around. Still lost in thoughts, he started taking off his damaged gloves and outer robe, checked the common room and found his Head Girl curled up in one of the armchairs. Satisfied that everything was fine and in order, he strode towards the staircase leading to their bedrooms.
'Probably could work on some new tactics for the Ravenclaw match as well' he thought, sidestepping their personal furry orange monstrosity snoring on the staircase.