Draco stood alone in the huge room suddenly feeling very odd. The word was more like lonely and cold, "Fuck" he muttered. HE didn't understand what went wrong. Oh that's right, his forearm that bore the dark mark. She was scared of it, it was wholly wrong and sinful to kiss him because she had been on the Light's side and he on the Dark. He touched his fading Dark Mark and cursed his father to the fiery pits of hell and made to walk out the door.
He lay awake in his Head boy dormitory staring at the emerald canopy above him and yet he was so confused about everything he just could not fall asleep. Hermione Granger was driving him more than crazy, the way she kissed him made him suddenly want to forget that he hated mudbloods. Although he had changed his view after the war had ended, yet somehow he knew that his view about her had changed since he had seen her at the Yule Ball. Although he had Pansy on his hand, wearing a dress that more than showed enough, it was Granger that seemed to attract all the attention. Even his. Her pretty periwinkle dress made her skin look creamy and when her eyes flashed towards him with anger and then softened with a smile when she saw Potter and Weasley behind him was a small moment that he hadn't forgotten to date. Victor Krum was another man he envied while all the girls envied Granger and thought she was a prude; he thought that Krum didn't look good next to her at all. Draco rolled onto his side and pulled the covers over his head as though trying to create a barrier between himself and the thoughts of Granger. He fell asleep picturing those expressive eyes and luscious lips.
Hermione woke up the next morning and penned a long letter to her Mom and Dad telling them about her wonderful week at Hogwarts and then rushed down to the wonderfully spaced common room that she shared with Malfoy. Although she kept out of his way everyday never really being reminded of the fact that she lived with him, the couch did smell of him and his aftershave a few times. She picked up her bag and walked out of the portrait hole and walked to the Great Hall where she spotted Ginny and Harry sitting together at the Griffindoor table. She slid into the seat opposite from them and picked up a bowl, helping herself to porridge as she earned herself a smile from harry who was preoccupied with twirling one of Ginny's lock of hair in his fingers while Ginny began filling her in how Ernie was telling everyone he loved her. She made a gagging sound as Ginny laughed away. Ron wandered in and seated himself next to her as Harry put some distance between himself and his pouting girlfriend. They both knew how protective Ron was about his sister even when Harry was the one dating her. She saw Malfoy walk in through the doors of the Great Hall, and instead of moving towards his own Slytherin table, he moved towards them. He positioned himself behind her chair, "Potter, This is for you. McGonagall wants you to see her as soon as you're done," he informed, "Ginny, Granger, Weasley," and then he turned on his heel and walked away leaving Hermione's mouth open.
"Gin, he called you Ginny!" she accused sternly as Ginny grimaced and shrugged. Harry rounded on her with eyes as wide as his glasses. "Well, erm," she began " He apologized to me after the war and I forgave him because he did seem repentant so…yeah he called me Ginny."
Harry nodded with a smile, "I agree, Malfoy's much better now. Don't you think so Ron?" Ron shook his head " He's still a bloody git," and the table erupted in snickers. Once breakfast was over, Harry moved away towards the teachers table while everyone else made their way to Potions with Slughorn. Hermione stepped into the dungeons and was greeted by the constant chatter of the class. She seated herself next to Ron who looked was talking about the upcoming Quidditch trials with Seamus. Professor Slughorn entered the classroom with a small caludron of steaming pink potion. He set it upon his table and called everyone forward. Hermione listened to him drone on about Amormentia, the strongest love potion.
Draco sighed and propped his head upon his elbows as he watched Granger move forward when Professor Slughorn asked her to smell the potion. She bent her head over the potion and scrunched up her nose taking a deep breath. Professor Slughorn smiled expectantly and she looked at the class. He scowled at Blaise who seemed to be edging closer to Daphne Greengrass.
" Umm…I smell spare parchment, Cologne and pears," she took a whiff of the potion again and then added "oh spearmint toothpaste." Draco snickered. Who in the world smells like that? Is she sure she isn't lesbian? Draco didn't even need to answer that. The way she kissed him yesterday made it clear that she wasn't. His snicker drew Slughorn's attention and he narrowed his eyes just a little and called upon him, "My dear boy, come on up! Lets see what you can smell shall we?" Draco shook his head vigorously trying to convey that he wasn't interested. "Come up Mr Malfoy," the professors stern tone got him out of his chair and towards the front of the classroom. He looked at everyone staring at him except for Granger, Potter and the weasel. The boys were whispering things among themselves while he noticed that Granger was fixing her doe eyes anywhere but on him. He smirked and smelt the potion. It was overpowering with a scent that he loved. He loved it so much, it was intoxicating. He cleared his head and said " Vanilla and strawberries and a bit of a smell of books, I think" he told the class. Granger seemed to have her eyes fixated on her text book. He scowled and returned to his seat.