"Hermione," the person saying her name was a girl Hermione had hoped to never hear from again; or, at least, not for a long time. Hermione should have realised by now that life was obviously out to get her. She turned, facing the beautiful blonde girl. Grimacing, Hermione stopped; she had been on her way to the Library, but as Faun got closer- and closer every second- her destination seemed far away. "I've been looking for you." Faun smiled; it was a kind smile- too kind. Faun was up to something; Hermione couldn't believe that the girl had grown new brain cells and had realised that- while harsh- Hermione had been right. Harry wasn't interested, and no amount of scornful behaviour to the boy's best (female) friend would change that.
"Hello, Faun," Hermione said, her voice tired. "I wondered how long it would take for you to show up." She didn't feel like putting on a kind smile and pretending to not find the girl bloody irritating. After the fiasco with Draco- just the night before- Hermione had no patience. Good-girl-Gryffindor-act could begin tomorrow, she told herself. The only way to tell stupid Faun to leave her alone once and for all was to channel her inner Slytherin. Hermione smirked; an expression she had learnt from her new friend, Draco Malfoy.
Faun seemed to come to the same conclusion as Hermione, because her smile fell and all that was left behind was a sneer, "Brightest Witch of our Age," She scoffed, "As if." She looked the Slytherin girl up and down, "Nice robes." She said, "The greed really suits you."
"Delcy," Hermione resorted to using the girl's surname, "If that's all you have to say, I'll just be going."
"Wait," Faun yelled, her expression becoming determined, "I want to ask you something."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "If you want to ask me whether I find you annoying, I'll spare you the suspense," She smirked at the girl, "I do." Faun scowled at the Slytherin, who gestured for her to go on, "Oh just spit it out, Delcy." Hermione sighed.
Faun swayed her hips as she stepped closer; she landed one hand on her hip, a smirk bringing fire to her expression again, "You like Malfoy, don't you?" Hermione stilled considerably, and Faun smirked wider. It was a smirk that would put even Draco to shame. "Oh my," she said, "Our very own Granger, sleeping with the enemy." Her condescending gaze lingered over the girl before she turned to leave.
Hermione, who had wanted the exchange over with as soon as possible, couldn't just drop it there. She followed Delcy down the deserted corridor, "Hey, Delcy," she called, and Faun stopped walking, not turning to face Hermione. "I'm not-"she took a staggered breath; "He isn't my enemy… I wouldn't- I don't even like him!" Liar, she thought, that was a lie. "I'm not sleeping with Malfoy." She finally said. She hated that her voice shook as she said it; hated that she could be sleeping with the enemy, but she had put a stop to it then.
The girl regained her walking, her heels clacking against the stone floor. She called out as she rounded the corner, "Goodbye, Hermione." Faun's voice was like a chime; seemingly pleasant at first, but it hung in the air like a haunting echo. Hermione shivered, knowing that she hadn't yet seen the back of Faun Delcy.
Draco was waiting in the Library; he had already taken a book from one of the shelves- on the topic of Quiditch- and sat down at a square wooden table. His blond hair hung in his eyes as he read.
Lately, the young witch had come to the conclusion that she needed somewhere new to read, because the Slytherin common room was always so crowded and noisy, and it wasn't as if she could just stroll into the Gryffindor common room and take back her old position in her armchair. She had taken to reading in the Library; it was quiet, and it gave her an unlimited reading source. She wasn't sure when or how it began, but Draco joined her there every day, claiming that he also needed a quiet place to read. She enjoyed the company.
Draco smiled slightly at Hermione when he noticed her standing over him. She smiled back, refusing to admit that there was an awkward sub-context hanging over them.
Deciding to be a little bit Gryffindor, she made like a stupidly brave lion cub, "Draco, about last night-"
He waved off her attempt at apologising; Draco shook his head, "Don't worry about it, Hermione." He smiled at her, the emotion not quite meeting his eyes, "Sit down and get a book out." He frowned, "Or, get a book out and sit down." He shook his head again, and Hermione fell into the chair opposite him, a frown on her face.
"But, Draco, I really think we should talk about it, I-" Draco didn't even appear to be listening. She grabbed his book from his hands, shutting it and ignoring his protests. He frowned at her and tried to grab it back off her. He failed, though, and Hermione swatted his hands away with the book. "Draco, I do like you… I just… Last night, I was confused and I don't know why I said no." she smiled nervously at Draco, "What I'm trying to say is that I like you."
"And when you say like…" Draco didn't want to get his hoped up too soon. He wanted to be sure this time, so he could avoid another awkward situation with the brunette witch; not to mention another equally awkward conversation with Christopher.
"I mean that I like you, like you." Her voice was amused, because she felt very immature and childish saying that. "As in, I like you as more than friends." Her fingers ran over the embossed title on Draco's book; it was a nervous habit someone could only pick up if they were the type of person who always carried a book with them.
Draco snatched his book back- Hermione felt the loss of it under her fingertips- and smiled slightly as he found his page again. "Well, we'll just have to wait and see if another opportunity presents itself, wont we?" He sounded amused as he said it.
Hermione chucked, "I guess we will," Hermione replied as she took out a reading book from her bag. It was a book about Potions and the effects they had on unsuspecting Wizards. Its embossed title was comforting under her fingertips.
The two Slytherins sat there for a long time, no one speaking, both enjoying their books in respectful silence; Hermione was sure she couldn't like another boy more. She had found a kindred soul, clearly; someone who had an affinity for reading, just like her. She never noticed that Draco lost interest in his book after ten minutes, and spent a long time watching the brown haired witch as she lost herself in the pages of a book. He also began planning this mysterious opportunity that would soon appear; who trusted fate with these matters? Definitely not Draco.
After an hour, he excused himself, "I have an errand to run. I'll see you at dinner." Hermione nodded, waving her hand in his general direction but not raising her eyes from the line she was on.