Waking up in my new bed is a pleasant experience. It is like swimming slowly to the surface of a pool warmed by the sun and when my face breaks the surface, I am fully awake. I don't get up automatically. Instead I take a moment to appreciate my new bed. It is huge and soft, and as I starfish out, I am surrounded by lovely pillows and a fresh, crisp comforter. When I do sit up, I take another gaze around my amazing room. One wall is completely filled with row after row of books, some old and some new. Kiddie corner to the mini-library is a huge desk loaded with parchment, quills and bottles of ink. But my favorite part of the room is a huge comfortable lounge that is placed under my huge window. From it I have a breath-taking view of the lake and Forbidden Forest. If I had known being Head Girl was this luxurious, I would have done it long ago.
But all too soon it is time to get up and get dressed. I grab my clothes and robes and slip out of my room into the bathroom. I walk carefully around the empty pool sized tub to the shower rooms. I lock the door behind me and set my clothes on the wide counter next to the sink. I walk over to the glass encased shower and turn on the water. I am immediately pummeled by steamy water from all directions. I didn't realize it was a Vichy Shower before I got in, but now I never want to leave. I stay under the pouring water until the last possible moment, then I step reluctantly out and get ready for the day.
When I am done, I head back to my room and grab my bag. It isn't until I am rushing across the common room that I notice the sleeping form, half hanging off the couch. I stop dead in my tracks and stare. Draco is obviously never made it to his bed last night. He is still in his white shirt and slacks, and even his shoes. A silent war battles within me, do I wake him up or leave him there and make it to breakfast? Sighing deeply, I make my decision and walk slowly over to his sleeping form.
He looks so different asleep. All the hard lines and sarcasm have left his face, leaving it soft and almost angelic. His long, dark lashes cast dark shadows on his cheek bones and his lips are slightly parted. A small giggle escapes as I realize something...he is snoring. It isn't loud or obvious, but he is actually snoring. I never expected it, though I never expected to find him sleeping either. I reach out and shake his warm, muscular shoulder.
"Malfoy, wake up," I say. His glazed eyes flutter open and lock right on me, bent over him. I stop shaking him but his gaze keeps me frozen with my and resting on his shoulder.
"Hermione?" he says sleepily and then clears his throat.
"Breakfast is almost over, you should probably get dressed," I say lamely.
"Oh, okay. Thanks," he says and I am finally able to straighten up and leave the room. It isn't until the portrait of Snape swings closed behind me that it hits me. Malfoy said Thanks? What the heII is that about? Malfoy never says thank you.
Totally weirded out, I speed through the halls to the Great Hall and grab a piece of toast just as Professor McGonagall hands me my schedule.
"How is it going with Mister Malfoy, Miss Granger?" she asks, giving me a once over.
"Oh, its okay professor. We haven't had any problems," I answer honestly.
"Well, that's good. Have a good day Miss Granger," she says and walks away. As soon as she is out of ear shot, Ginny practically runs me over and it is a second before I realize what she is saying.
"How was it? Was it awful? Did you two fight? How's your room?" she asks all of this very fast and I have to place a hand over her mouth to stop the spew of questions.
"Nothing exciting happened Ginny. We went to our room, looked around and went to bed. We barely even spoke and when we did, it was cordial. As for the room, it is amazing Ginny. It is absolutely amazing. I will show it to you tonight after dinner if you'd like," I offer and she is quick to agree.
After that she runs off to class and I finally glance down at my schedule. I have Transfiguration, Charms and Ancient Ruins today. So with a last look around at the rushing students, I turn and head out the door, running straight into Malfoy. His arms quickly grip me to keep me from falling. The heat from his hands on my arms burns straight through my clothes and spreads over my skin.
"Sorry," he says automatically, then he really looks at who he ran into. I figured he would drop his hands instantly, but he doesn't. Instead, his hands linger on my arms as he stares at me.
"It's okay, its my fault. But I really do have to get to class," I tell him.
"Oh, yeah," he says, letting me go and stepping aside.
I hurry past him, my brain working a mile a minute trying to figure out what is going on with him. Before, he would never have touched me, a filthy mudblood as he so loves to call me. At least he used to. For the first time I realize not once has he called me anything but my name. I am so confused.
But once I make it to class, I am able to put Malfoy out of my head and work on the complicated spell work and taking vigorous notes. And with my head firmly back on schoolwork where it belongs, the day flashes by. I eat a quick lunch with Ginny and go back to class. And before I know it, dinner is served. After we eat, I make sure Malfoy is still at the Slytherin table, and can't help noticing that he is not surrounded by his usual gang of thugs, but rather sitting alone at the end of the table, ignoring the people around him.
Trying to shake the weird feeling the sight gives me, I lead Ginny to my new room. Snape tries to give us trouble, but once I shout the password, he is forced to swing forward and allow entrance. Ginny is understandably amazed by the room I get to live in and we spend a while sitting in the common room talking. But we both have homework so she heads back to the Gryffindor common room and I settle into one of the armchairs and pull out my work.
It isn't long until footsteps announce my roommates return. I look up as he walks in. He nods a greeting to me which I slowly return. I watch him from the corner of my eye as he dumps his bag and heads to his room. When he comes back, his tie is gone and the top buttons of his shirt are undone. He has also ditched his shoes and is only in his socks.
"Do you mind if I work out here?" he asks.
"Go ahead," I tell him with a shrug.
"Thanks," he says and I can't take it anymore.
"What has happened to you Malfoy? Why are you so different?" I burst out and he stares at me.
"What do you mean?" he asks.
"Well, your supposed to be all sarcastic and mean and hate me. Instead you are all polite and nice and helpful," I say, realizing how lame it sounds.
"Do you want me to be that way?" he asks quietly, his dark eyes never leaving mine.
"No, it is...nice. I just don't know why you're doing it," I say.
"I don't want to be a jerk Hermione, and now that the Dark Lord and his followers are gone, I don't have to be. I don't have to impress them and keep them happy," he explains.
"I guess that makes sense," I admit.
"I don't want to keep fighting with you Hermione. I know we will probably never be friends, but I don't think we have to be enemies. We have to work together all year, live together. It would be nice to be able to do that without fighting all the time," he says, and I am surprised by the lack of anger of sarcasm in his voice. He just sounds extremely tired.
"That would be nice," I tell him and for the first time, a half smile tugs at his lips.
"Thanks. Now could you explain this question to me," he says, pointing to a page in our Transfiguration homework.
I nod and help him. It is strange how easy it is to talk to him now that he isn't such a jerk. Who knew that there was actually a decent guy behind his hateful exterior? We spend a few hours in companionable silence, working and once in a while comparing notes and answers. It turns out he is a lot smarter than I gave him credit for. When we are done, I go pack away my books and get in my pajamas. But once I am ready to get in bed, I realize I left my wand sitting on the table in the common room. Hoping Malfoy has gone to bed, I sneak back out there to get my wand. Luck is not on my side. He is sitting hunched over in the same armchair I left him in, a large, old looking book open in his lap. When he hears me he looks up and I can't help laughing. He looks like a little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"What are you reading?" I ask, still smiling. To my surprise, a faint blush tints his usually pale cheeks.
"I'm...ah...Dracula," he answers, looking down.
"Is that a first edition?" I ask and almost squeal when he nods. "Oh, I love that book! I can't believe you have a first edition! That must have cost a fortune!" I gush before I can stop myself.
"I actually found it in a used bookstore in Romania when we visited. It was actually quite cheap," he says laughing.
"You are so lucky!" I tell him and he shrugs.
"Did you forget something?" he asks, eyeing me and I remember I am only in my pajamas.
"Oh, um yeah, I forgot my wand," I say, pointing to it still laying on the table. He reaches over and grabs it, holding it out to me. When I take it, our hands brush and I am surprised again by how warm and soft his skin is, and by the tingle that spreads over my hand, emanating from his touch. "Thanks," I tell him.
"Your welcome."
"Well, goodnight," I say.
"Night," he responds and then drops his eyes back to his book. But when I turn and head back to my room, I can feel his gaze on my back. Maybe there is more to Draco Malfoy than meets the eye.
Hey guys thanks for reading! xxx
Yea I know i've been really bad lately and I will try and get a chapter up once a week from now on!
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Zogio xxx