'Ello my lufflies. =3 So I fixed whatever made Fanfic hate this chapter (by doing nothing?), so here you go! Sorry it took so long to write BUT I believe things are getting interesting now... 3
"Oi, Malfoy!"
"Sod off, Weaselby, I'm not in the mood for your incompetence."
Ron scowled and started after the Slytherin, quickly catching up with him and grabbing his shoulder.
"Malfoy, where's Hermione? No one's seen her for days."
Draco sneered and jerked out of the Gryffindor's grip.
"Why should I care where Granger is? I haven't seen her either. She probably locked herself in her room, or something ridiculous."
Draco's response seemed to upset Ron, making his fists clench and, for a moment, Draco wondered if he should be concerned.
"She's been having her assignments sent up to her. She doesn't get sick, Malfoy, so she must be upset about something."
"As apt an observation that may seem, Weasley, I'm sure you're overestimating the abilities of the bookworm's immune system," Draco scoffed, starting away briskly. He didn't get far though, as Ron grabbed his arm and jerked him back.
"I'm serious, Ferret. If you upset her, then you'll regret ever setting foot in Hogwarts," Ron threatened, his voice low.
"Resorting to pet names, are we?" Draco spat, "Besides, Weasel, I doubt there's anything you can do to me, no matter how hopelessly infatuated with Granger you are."
Ron turned as red as his hair and stammered for a reply, but Draco stalked away in a flurry of robes.
Draco burst into the Heads' Common Room and threw his bag into one of the winged arm chairs by the fire. Hermione was nowhere to be found. He scowled and stomped up to her room, banging on the door.
"Granger! Open up!"
There was no answer. He banged again but the silence stretched on. He growled something and tried the door. It was just as locked as it had been three days before.
"You can't stay in there forever!"
"Watch me!"
He was momentarily shocked by how harsh her voice was, then angered. What was she trying to prove? She hadn't protested until she knew he was hooked, that little minx. He swore up and down, shouting profanities at her door.
"Is that entirely necessary?" the portrait beside him asked incredulously. Draco glared at it and stalked off into his room, throwing an obscene gesture over his shoulder, and slammed the door.
He paced angrily, raking his fingers through his hair. She was just being difficult, that was all. She was just trying t piss him off. Well, it was working! He leaned against the mantle, staring at the fire. He could never understand why people did this to think—it never worked for him—but he decided to try. The flames danced, oblivious to his ferocious glare. Sparks winked in and out of existence, teasingly inviting him. With a huff, he pushed away from the hearth and resumed pacing. She had to leave her room eventually. She would starve. Unless she sent for a house elf, but she hated doing that, he knew. She was always harping on wizards with house elves, claiming they were slave drivers, or something equally atrocious. She always had to be a bloody saint… But if she wasn't summoning house elves, she had to be leaving her room sooner or later. He thought over that possibility for a moment, eyes narrowing. He could wait out in the Common Room at night until she emerged and then… No more waiting and discreetly trying to lure her to his bed. He'd wasted too much time with that.
Draco rubbed his eyes tiredly as Professor McGonagall droned on about properly transfiguring a pocket watch into a water glass. Surely there was something useful the crazy woman could teach them… He shook his head a bit and sat up a little straighter. If he fell asleep, he was sure she'd transfigure him into a water glass. He shivered. He was not partial to the thought of being transfigured again.
Hermione had made no effort to leave her room the night before, so he had stayed up for nothing. And he was not entirely pleased about it. How long could she stay up there? He gave himself a little shake and tried to focus his eyes on the front of the class room. He'd find out soon enough.
"You insufferable git! I never want to see you again!"
Draco paused as he entered the Common Room, unsure why there was a distinctly female voice screeching. A door slammed and he heard heavy footsteps tramping down the stairs. He busied himself with the laces of his shoes and glanced up through the fringe of his hair as none other than Ron Weasley stomped out. His eyebrow quirked up instinctively and he cautiously trotted up the stairs.
"Granger?" he asked quietly, leaning against the door frame.
"Go away!" Muffled sobs leaked out.
"Granger, what just happened?"
"I said go away!" More sobs.
"Granger, I- Hermione. Would you please tell me what's wrong?"
"No!" Her voice cracked.
"Please, Hermione," he persisted, curiosity drawing on his charm, "Contrary to common consensus, I don't hate you. Now would you please tell me what Weasley has done to upset you so?" There was silence and he placed his ear to the door. "Hermione?" He heard locks clicking and stepped back. She peeked out through a crack in the door and he could see the tear tracks down her cheeks.
"You don't? Hate me, I mean?" she asked, voice shaky and barely audible. He made a move to wipe the moisture from her face but she shrunk back and he let his hand drop.
"No, I don't. I find her insufferable at times, but no." He shrugged. "Would you prefer if I did?" She shook her head. "Good. Now will you please explain why you were screaming at Weasley and he stormed off? And why you're crying?"
She gave a watery chuckle and opened the door a bit further. He noted that she looked like a wreck; a sexy wreck, but still a wreck.
"Oh, Ron and I had a tiff. He started it, really."
"'A tiff'? A tiff usually doesn't warrant 'You insufferable git', my dear." He smirked, raising one eyebrow. She shrugged and tried to smile.
"Disagreement, whatever. Either way, he's still a git and I still don't want to see him again." She crossed her arms over her chest decisively.
"Why?"
She looked uncomfortable for a second before she let her arms fall to her sides, shaking her head. Draco held out a hand to her, but she regarded it suspiciously.
"Really, Granger? I'm being nice." He smiled crookedly. "Why don't you come down? Eat something?" Her stomach gurgled loudly and he chuckled. "Please, Hermione?"
Tentatively, she took his hand and he led her down to the Common Room. She fell gratefully into an armchair before the fire. He knocked three times on the wall below a frieze of the Hogwarts crest and, seconds later, there was a crack. Dobby blinked at Draco, confused.
"Yes, young master Malfoy?" he asked cautiously.
"Can you bring up some sandwiches, Dobby? Ms. Granger hasn't been going to meals lately," he asked, nodding toward Hermione. Dobby spun to look at her with a gasp.
"Miss Granger shouldn't do such thingses. Miss Granger is too kind, she is! Dobby will bring sandwiches!" With another crack he was gone before Hermione could protest.
"I wish he wouldn't. I can get them myself."
"He wants to," Draco said with a blasé shrug, "In case you hadn't noticed, he likes you." He took the chair opposite her, moving his bag to the floor. "Now why are you and Weasley in a… 'tiff'?"
She opened her mouth to reply when Dobby reappeared with a crack, a tray piled high with sandwiches and pumpkin juice balanced on his head.
"Miss Granger must eat!" he cried desperately, setting the tray on the small coffee table and gesturing toward the food. She smiled politely and took one, taking a bite. Her satisfied "mmm" made Dobby's face light up with glee and he hastily poured her a glass of pumpkin juice. She continued to eat and Draco watched as patiently as he could.
"Thank you, Dobby," he finally said as the house elf began to supplicate Hermione to have a third sandwich midway through her second. Dobby recognized the dismissal and cleared his throat.
"Wait, Dobby," Hermione interjected, dashing back up to her room for a moment. She handed the house elf a brown-wrapped bar with a smile. Dobby grinned before disappearing with a now-familiar crack.
"What did you give him?" Draco inquired skeptically.
"A chocolate bar," she answered plainly, finishing her sandwich. Draco regarded her quizzically for a moment, brain turning. She didn't have to come down. She could have stayed holed up there if she had reserves of chocolate bars… He shook his head.
"No wonder he likes you," he muttered. He sat back a bit and continued, "So, care to explain? Not the chocolate bar, of course."
"Of course," she said with a giggle, "On one condition." When he didn't protest she took a sip of her pumpkin juice and continued, "Why do you suddenly care?"
"I'm appalled, Granger. Here I am being nice, and you're playing me out to be a villain." He looked affronted.
"Oh, come off it, Malfoy. You've always been a villain. Don't act all contrite and innocent now. Why do you care? You never did before. In fact you used to go out of your way to make me miserable."
Draco thought for a moment.
"I'm not sure," he finally said, shrugging. She nodded slowly. "I guess I'm tired of being a bad guy. I kinda wanna try to be a good guy." Is that what she wants to hear? he thought quickly.
She snorted a laugh and he scowled at her.
"You have to admit that you're not one for shows of compassion and kindness," she drawled with a grin.
"Hey, I can be nice," he said defensively.
"Sure," she said with another laugh.
"So?"
"'So'?"
"Are you going to answer me?" he asked, "I did answer your question, after all."
"True," she said with a nod. He waited and she gave a small smile. "Well, Ron and I argued-"
"I got that."
"Shush! We were arguing because he is under the impression that I am avoiding him, then accused me of… of fornicating with every man in Hogwarts, then said that I was avoiding answering him." She shook her head.
"'Answering him'?"
"He… Well, Ron told me he fancied me…"
"Ah, he asked you out."
"Not exactly…"
Draco's eyebrows shot up and her cheeks turned red. He thought it was quite cute.
"'Not exactly'? I'm afraid you'll have to clarify, Granger."
She chewed her lip and he was once again reminded of why the past three days had been hell on earth. He suppressed a groan.
"Well… He more or less propositionedme, more than anything else…" Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke until it was barely audible. Draco just stared, brain turning over and over. The thought of Weasley doing anything with Hermione only bother him a lot.
"He had no right to accuse me of avoiding him."
"Were you?"
She clamped her mouth shut and blushed again.
"That… that…" she stammered. He only kept his gaze level and she sighed. Maybe I was. It's just… It's Ron. It's strange and… and weird and… He's like my brother and… and we have nothing in common and… and… Why am I telling you this?" She got to her feet quickly.
Draco ignored her last question and looked up at her evenly.
"You don't like him," he stated. She fell back into her chair with a huff and shook her head.
"He got made when I told him no, and said I was only saying that because…" Tears appeared on her eyes again. "Because I must be having sex with someone else." She started sobbing, her head falling into her hands. Her body heaved with every sob and Draco tentatively reached out and touched her shoulder gently. He felt better that it hadn't been all his fault that she'd locked herself in. She sobbed harder and he moved so he was kneeling in front of her. What he hadn't expected was for her to throw her arm around his neck and cry into his shoulder. He awkwardly put his arms around her, unsure of what, exactly, was going on. He turned his head slightly, sniffing her hair. Lavender and Vanilla, the same as on the train. She was so vulnerable, so upset… She really was a prude if this bothered her so much.
They stayed like that, Hermione crying and Draco rubbing her back absently, until she stopped. She gave a couple hiccups and leaned back, wiping her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she blubbered with a few last sniffles.
"Don't worry about it," he murmured. His arms were still around her and he wasn't entirely keen to change that. His eyes were locked on hers and she shifted a bit.
"Malfoy?"
"Sh…" He leaned forward, cupping her chin in his hand. He knew he shouldn't, she was still emotionally raw, but oh, did he want to. He brushed her lips lightly with his own. She stiffened instinctively.
"Malfoy…" she started, her tone a mixture of fear and disapproval.
"Trust me," he whispered, rubbing her cheek with the pad of his thumb. She didn't pull away, but he could see suspicion in her eyes. He rose so he was leaning over her and kissed her lightly again. She lifted one of her hands to his that held her face, tracing his wrist lightly. He watched her for a second, desire building again, and became all too aware of the choice he had to make: keep playing the good guy or take what he so dearly wanted. He desperately wanted to ignore it and just be, but he knew that eventually he would have to choose, no matter how much he didn't want to. He kissed her again, fore forcefully and pushed her further back into the chair. He set one of his knees beside her thigh, leaning his forearm against the wing of the chair. His teeth grazed her lip lightly and she gasped. His tongue darted in, brushing hers. When she trembled against him and threaded her fingers through his hair, he knew his choice had to be made.
He leaned back from her, expression a mix of regret and uncertainty.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, stepping back slowly. She jumped up too, face flushed.
"Wh-what? Why?!" she demanded, reaching for him. She grabbed his hand and gave it a tug. He groaned inwardly.
"Merlin, Granger, I'm trying to be the good guy, alright?!" He pulled his hand free. "You're emotional and you're not thinking clearly. And as much as I'd love to ravage you in that chair and fuck you on the table, it's not exactly the gentlemanly thing to do when you're this upset!" He ran both his hands through his hair, frustrated with himself. She only stared at him, her cheeks darkening with a blush and he growled something under his breath. "Never mind, just…" He threw up his hands and stalked up to his room, leaving a very confused Hermione Granger.
I even think this one may have been free of typos. =D
