Draco was getting more annoyed of himself. Last night would have to be the most awkward encounter with Granger, as of yet. Once they were done patrolling, they were asked to go directly to the headmaster's office for more work. They stayed there for about two hours. Once they were dismissed, they went straight to their quarters.
"H-hermione, wait!"
Hermione's eyes went big. Since when did he call her Hermione? She must be hearing things. Slowly, she turned around to face him. "Uh, yeah?"
Draco saw the peculiar look on her face. Oh yes, bloody idiot. He just called her name, as if they were buddies. "I wanted to know if um, if you…if you wanted to—to be my date on the Yule Ball?"
Hermione had to resist the urge of coughing and spluttering saliva all over the place. What the hell was he on about? "What?" She asked with contempt.
Draco avoided her glare. He knew this was just a bad idea, but he had to give it a try, didn't he? He just did not expect this kind of reaction from her. He felt humiliated. "Nothing."
Hermione crossed her arms. "What are you playing at, Malfoy?"
Draco's jaw ticked. What was she talking about? Did she think he was doing this for his own amusement? "What do you mean?"
"All of it! You act weird around me, you call me by my name—which by the way is really—really weird! And then you-you kissed me—"
"We kissed, Granger. You didn't exactly push me away or object to my actions," Draco interrupted, resuming to addressing her by her surname.
Hermione's cheeks were crimson. Why was he so good at acting indifferent? It was impossible for him not to be affected as she was, even though it wasn't much of a big deal. Really, it wasn't. "I did push you away," she said through gritted teeth.
"After you realized who you were kissing," Draco said calmly.
"No, that's not it. It was weird. Everything about it was," Hermione hurriedly said. She didn't want him to think that his presence was some kind of taboo to her. She thought differently from others. Gods, why were they even talking about this.
"Would you have pushed me away if I was Weasley, or McLaggen?"
Hermione sighed irritably. "Why did you do it in the first place?" She shot back, ignoring Draco's question.
Draco's face was impassive. It was definitely hard to decipher if what he was saying are lies or the truth."I just wanted to show my affections. I believe there's nothing wrong with that. Don't you?"
Affections? He fancied her? Hermione's cheeks and ears were ablaze. Hermione opened her mouth to respond but closed it afterwards. She was rendered speechless. Whatever Draco was on about, he was successful, to say the least. Somehow, she believed what was coming out of his mouth. His delicious mouth.
Wait, what?
Draco cleared his throat and rubbed his nape. "So…about the Ball?"
Hermione sighed. So he really was serious? "Look…"
Draco laughed humorlessly. He forced a smile, but it probably looked like a sneer or something. Maybe he was pushing his luck. Granger was nice to him but it did not mean she wanted anything to do with him. His entirety was debased. "Nevermind, it was silly. Goodnight," he nodded to Hermione's way and went to his room.
ooo
It was exactly a week before the Christmas holidays, and a few days before the Yule Ball. It was a week for the students' preliminary exam. Everyone was busy studying and rushing their assignments and projects while preparing for the upcoming events.
Maybe Ron wanted me to be his date on the Ball, Hermione thought. The idea was quite fascinating, really. Maybe this was the right time or her to fix things with him. Maybe he had actually changed over the months. She may not have the same feelings for him, but that wouldn't be a problem, she knew she could fall in love with him once more.
Ron was many things; he was mostly playful, but when he was serious and passionate, Hermione was just head over heels to him. Before all the deaths of their friends, he took care of her, and he loved her irrevocably. He had her, mind, soul, and body. Hermione smiled to herself. She knew, they would make it right this time. It would last. They would be together, forever.
Finally having to decide her fate with Ron, Hermione gathered all her wits, and pushed down her pride. She headed to the hall which was partially filled with students who were chatting merrily with each other. She sat down next to Ron and faced him. He looked glum. He hadn't even touched his breakfast.
"So Ron, about last night…" she started.
Ron, who was dully poking his chicken, raised his eyes to look at Hermione.
Before Hermione could continue, Professor McGonagall's voice erupted the students' chatter, causing everyone to fall into silence. "Quiet, now. I have an announcement to make. This afternoon your professors and I will be having a meeting, therefore exams which were originally scheduled in the afternoon will be moved to your vacant schedules in the mornings. Since the Yule Ball would be held a week from now, I expect you lot to have prepared your garments and anything else needed for the Ball. I will be giving you the privilege to go to Hogsmeade and buy what is necessary. Permissions of your guardians are imperative, so it is inevitable that 5th, 6th, and 7th years are to submit their letters of consent signed by the respective guardians. Schedules and rooms for the examinations are posted outside the hall."
Ron nodded in anticipation. He placed his hand above Hermione's and squeezed it lightly. "Let's talk about it later," he smiled boyishly and then chomped on the food on his plate.
Hermione smiled meekly, but quite displeased at Ron's manners. Honestly, how would she be dating a guy who doesn't even know anything about manners? Disgusting. She took a bite of cheese stick and gritted her teeth at Ron. How could she feel giddy at one second, and then annoyed, the next? Hermione sighed deeply and shook her head. 'He'd change for me, I'll see to that', she thought eminently.
Her eyes wandered the hall, staring at students who ate with vigor and talked merrily with their peers. The younger ones seemed to be very happy. Unfortunately for them, they still had a long way to come to realize that they have not yet achieved true happiness in Hogwarts. At least that's what she thought. They would soon realize that a price came with their happiness. Who knows, a new Voldemort would be reincarnated, along with a new Harry Potter who would unwittingly prepare himself—along with his peers— for battle against a foolhardy Dark Lord. Right, not that she was being pessimist about Hogwart's future, it's just…she was so tired of fighting, plotting, and worrying. She glanced at Harry who seemed to be having an animated conversation with Ron. He looked very much exhausted and a tad older than his age. She pitied him.
As if stopping her thoughts on cue, Hermione felt eyes looking at her. Instinctively, she looked ahead and found Malfoy looking back at her. He wasn't smirking or sneering at her. He was just…looking, or even wondering. He didn't even flinch when she actually stared right back at him. He seemed so peaceful at his state—completely different from when he opened his mouth and told everyone how rich and handsome he was, and how he utterly despised everyone who was not him.
Except he wasn't like that anymore, Hermione realized. Sure, he still had his jabs on Ron and Harry, but they were merely flimsy. Actually, his civility towards her was quite amusing, but very weird. As far as she was concerned, asking her to the Ball was completely a different thing. She felt butterflies in her stomach whenever she remembered their…encounter.
"Why are you staring at Malfoy?"
Hermione shook her head to look at Ginny, who was sitting on her left. She looked back at Malfoy and realized he was no longer looking at her. She cleared her throat and faced Ginny. "I wasn't," she quipped tartly.
Ginny dabbed a napkin on her mouth. "Right. Come now, we have to go check on our schedule. We might have Defense at ten thirty," she said as she was standing up.
Hermione merely nodded and followed her out.
ooo
Unfortunately for the seventh years, exams for Defense against the Dark Arts were programmed in a toxic schedule. They were to have thirty minutes of lecture, while the remaining hour would be allotted for the exams. Why would they schedule DADA at eight in the morning? That was just pure torture.
Before the year has started, Albus Dumbledore's friend, an Auror, Marcus Finley took the vacant position as a new professor for DADA. Up until now, Headmistress McGonagall has been taking over the class until a substitute would be officially employed. So when Professor Finley entered the raucous class of seventh years, the noise immediately died down and the students stared curiously at the man standing before them.
"Good morning," he greeted morosely as he laid a book on the table. "I am Prof. Marcus Finley. I work with the Ministry. I will be taking over this class," he quipped sourly. Somehow, Draco was reminded of Snape. Although he did not look like Snape, they had an uncanny likeness when it came to their attitudes. "Terms… No late students. I expect everyone would be seated in their proper places before I enter the room."
Draco heard someone snort. He looked to the far right corner of the room and found Weasley sneering at the new teacher. What guts he had, really. He looked back at Finley and found him glaring at the red head.
"Any problem, Weasley?" Marcus Finley asked as he stood right across Weasley. Draco grinned inwardly and hid his amusement from the scene. Weasley shook his head with embarrassment, his face turning into a dark shade of red. Strike one for Weaselbee.
Finley narrowed his eyes at Weasley. "Disrespectful. Five points from Gryffindor. Anyone else who would want to express their distaste in me and this subject?" He asked coolly. The students just stared frighteningly at him. When no one answered, he continued. "Very well, on to important matters. We have barely thirty minutes to discuss before you'll be taking the exams. To accommodate the remaining twenty five minutes, you are to be paired with your classmate and work on an essay, to be submitted five minutes before eight thirty. Partners: Weasley, Turpin; Longbottom, Parkinson; Granger, Zabini; Finnegan, Crabbe..." And after a few names, "Potter, Malfoy."
Oh, fuck. Draco shot up from his chair. "Professor, I can't work with him! I'd gladly choose Granger over that—him!"
Finley snapped his head at Draco's direction. He gulped furiously as he felt the onslaught of his sudden outburst.
"Pardon, Malfoy?" Finley asked. Draco just stared ahead. Funny, he addressed him as if they were chums. Damn. "10 points from the Slytherin," he declared. "See, this is not the way I want things to work out. I want you all disciplined. I hate morons so better
not be. Start working. Now!" he bellowed.
The students then went to their partners. Draco sighed in defeat and went over to sit beside Potter. Zabini sat down beside Hermione. Hermione got her quill and started writing on the assigned topic. "What have you got over Draco?" he whispered.
"What?" Hermione shot him a contemptuous look.
Blaise moved closer to Hermione. "You heard me, Granger," he said as he took a parchment of paper and started writing.
"Nothing. Sod off, Zabini."
"I'll find it out." He said finally. He looked over at his left and found Draco looking right back at him, more like glaring daggers, actually. Now what was his problem? He looked as if he would attack her. Oh sweet Salazar, Draco actually looked as if he was jealous.
Twenty minutes had passed, and Professor Finley collected the essays of the students. It wasn't actually surprising that Hermione and Blaise finished the essay with flying colors. Unfortunately, most of the other pairs have barely finished theirs. What pity. Finally, the professor had administered the final exam of the day. Students' groans and moans filled the room once they have received their tests. Even Harry attempted to ask questions to Hermione while the test was on going. Ron wasn't out of the question, of course. If Harry had a hard time answering, Ron had definitely had a harder time. What with Quidditch and a lot of stuff going on, both he and Harry had not the time to actually study. At least that's what they told themselves.
After the long test, Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Harry had gone their separate ways. Hermione had Advanced Potions next, while Ginny and the two boys had Transfiguration. While Hermione was on her way to her next class, she halted to a stop when someone called her attention. Curious, she turned around.
"Potions?" Draco asked, catching up to her.
Hermione creased her brows and looked at Malfoy suspiciously. She felt those damn butterflies in her stomach once again. "Yeah. Why?"
Draco nodded and raked his fingers on his hair. He was sweating on his forehead, and Hermione had the urge to wipe it. Goodness… "Right, come on, we're late."
Before Hermione could respond, she was yet again surprised when Draco held her hand and towed her with him, running towards the dungeons for Potions.
oooo
Potions had been quite Hermione's forte, so the test had been easy for her. She assured herself that if she would not get a perfect score on the test, she would at least have one or two mistakes. She had been fidgeting on the topic until lunch. She needed to have a good transcript this year, and so it was imperative that she should have good marks on all her subjects.
After lunch, Hermione went to her room and changed her clothes. She could not help but feel relieved that the preliminary exams are over. She had owled Molly two weeks ago about the anticipated Ball, and to her surprise, Molly Weasley owled her back with a few galleons that she could use to buy her dress, shoes, and other essentials. The same time two weeks ago, she had gone to Madam Malkin's shop and chose her dress. Suffice to say, she needn't go Hogsmeade this afternoon, since she had the things she needed. After getting out of her school robes, she wore a white tanked top, slipped on a pair of jeans, and her Chuck Taylor's. She tied her hair up and put on her jumper.
After criticizing herself on the mirror, she made it a go to meet Ron.
oooo
If anything, Draco wanted to leave the Slytherin common rooms. Unfortunately, he has nowhere to go. He wasn't too keen on going to Hogsmeade either. He had about twenty suits in the Manor. Needing one for a measly ball wasn't a big deal. Sort of. Plus the added fact that he had no date. It wasn't as if he'd take Pansy. Blaise would beat the hell out of him. Astoria Greengrass was also a no no. She was too…clingy. And she'd been giving him sultry looks which, Draco had to admit, wasn't a turn on. It was quite freaky, actually. Greengrass was downright pretty but she wasn't Draco's type.
Or maybe, she could be. If only he paid more attention to her. Like he did to Granger. And he was a few months older than her. Like Granger was about a year older than him too. Damn. He was losing his mind.
"What, are you going to ignore me for the rest of your life? Honestly, Draco. What have I done wrong to you?" Blaise asked, interrupting Draco's train of thoughts.
Draco responded him with a glare. How dare he ask such question? Honestly, the man was a dick.
"I think I know what's going on between you and Granger, she told me stuff," Blaise lied. He would eventually make Draco tell him what he's asking for.
Draco gave him a bored look, and ignored his remark. He continued his musing on who should he take as a date for the Yule Ball. He did not want to go, really. But McGonagall was insistent on the matter. Head Boy and head Girl must both be present in the event, and they had to have the first dance, with their dates.
"I'll have you know, Draco, I have my eyes on you and Granger." Blaise said smugly.
"Fuck off, Blaise," Draco sneered. "I don't have any idea on what you are talking about."
Blaise laughed drily. "Of course you don't, idiot. So tell me, who are you going to take to the Ball?"
Draco gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Astoria," he quirked irritably. Promptly, he stood up from the settee and left the room to look for her uninformed date.
oooo
"'Mione! Hey, just the person I was looking for," Ron addressed as he lightly placed his hand on Hermione's shoulder. She was on her way to the owlery when he saw her. "Good time to talk?" He asked as he walked with her.
Hermione looked up at Ron and smiled sweetly at him. "Sure, but I have to go get my mail at the owlery. You want to come with?"
"Sure," he responded, as they proceeded to walk to their destination. "So," Ron started yet again. "About us, I want to give it another try. This time I won't take you, or us for granted. I-I lost my brother already, I don't want to lose you too."
Hermione wasn't paying much attention to Ron once she got her letter. She just nodded to whatever he said.
"So…what do you have to say?" Ron asked nervously. They were exiting the owlery now.
Hermione halted to a stop. She felt a clog in her throat, as if air as taken out of it. Ron bumped against Hermione's back since he had not noticed she stopped walking.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked gently, noting distress written all over Hermione's face.
Hermione stared at the floor, feeling her eyes watering. Her chest constricted painfully, and she suddenly felt as if she was going to choke. Shit, she was about to cry right now… "I-I have to go!" She said quite abruptly and ran as fast as she could, away from a confused Ron.
A/N: Alright so here's the thing. I am seven chapters ahead of y'all, but there's about five to seven more chapters to write. Unfortunately, my internship as a medical technologist would be starting on the 15th (PH time). And honestly if I was assigned in the hospital, I would have managed to finish this story in weeks, but really, the odds weren't in my favor. I was assigned in our school's clinical laboratories, which means I spend most of my time in school. I have quotas, exams and quizzes in a few days (did I just mention I'm just about to start my internship on the 15th), so as of now I have to focus on school :( It's my fourth year in college so I have to do good. Bah. Anyways, I'll still be updating the chapters that I have already written. Although I'm not so sure about the ones I have not edited :(
Oh, and Happy Mom's day to all yo mommaz ;P