Hi Hi All. I'm sorry that I got this chapter out so late. I guess real life caught up to me, but…
Happy New Year!!
This chapter is longer than the previous ones and I hope you enjoy it. I worry a little, as always, that my characters are OCC, so if they are do tell me! This was a hard chapter to write and I know it doesn't hold much plot, but I hope you enjoy it. I'll try my hardest to get the next chapter out soon! Thank you to all of you who have been following this story! You guys always light up my day.
Disclaimer: Same as always.
Chapter
Their next encounter took place in Defense Against the Dark Arts, or DADA as the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry called it. Only the muggle students seemed to vaguely recall that the acronym of their beloved class was the same as some bizarre muggle art movement in the early twentieth century.
The teachers decided that the students needed a place to vent their frustrations in a controlled, safe environment. The solution was to combine all houses into a triple DADA once a week. Thus, the seventh years had fewer outbursts because students would continually dual for their pride and be done with it in the classroom, not outside the classroom as many of the younger years did.
Today was another one of those sessions and, as always, the tensions ran high.
Teachers were always present, usually Professor Lupin along with Professor McGonagall and, on occasion, even Snape. His presence usually resulted in less violence for one reason or another.
"Alright, all those who have a personal quarrel know to write the names of their opponents on a slip of paper, no cheating, and insert it into the hat," Professor Lupin announced and students began making their way to a hat which looked much like a replica of the Sorting Hat. Some speculated it was a close cousin, or even brother, to the one used in the sorting ceremonies.
Students stood around a massive circle. The circle was split into four sections, so that each house stood within their respective slice. It made for less fist fights outside of the official duels and also served, on a smaller note, to show how divided the school was.
When all slips of paper were placed inside the hat, the hat was set on a stool by the professors. It calculated the number of times a name was listed and then randomly selected a name from the pile, usually beginning with the most…offensive person first.
"Draco Malfoy," the hat shouted out and there was a brief cheer from the other three houses. His name was almost always called out because one person or another always had a quarrel with him.
He stepped out onto the arena and another five students stepped out also.
"Wow, Malfoy upset a lot of people today," Hermione whispered to Ginny and she nodded. Despite her argument with the boys the other day, Ginny had remained firmly on Hermione's side and ratted the two out. To say the least, it was nice to have a good friend.
"Nah, remember that one time he pissed off the whole Ravenclaw team?" Ginny replied pausing to recall the memorable day. "This is nothing compared to that."
The five stood on one side and Malfoy stood on another. She spotted Pansy in the group and wondered what Malfoy did to upset her. There was always a girl in his opposing group. Probably the girl that ended up being his "flavor of the week."
"Malfoy, as the victim you may choose to duel all your opponents at once or individually," Lupin announced always in formality because everyone knew Malfoy battled every time.
"At once, Professor," he replied smirking.
There were a few gasps, but all in all everyone knew to be amazed at Draco's dueling skills. Even the first years talked about it. To watch Draco Malfoy duel as the seventh years did…there would certainly be more than one first year, second year, third year, hell, even a fourth year that would give up their wand to watch Draco Malfoy duel and, quite frankly, kick ass.
On the count of three, all six were off and bets were flying around the room on who would win.
"I'll bet you a galleon that the five will win," Ginny exclaimed as she watched Malfoy dance his way around the hexes and curses being thrown at him.
"I'll bet you two that Malfoy will win," Hermione replied amused as she watched Malfoy play with his duelists. He was allowing them to have their fun, even feigning injury, but to her and the teachers, it was quite clear that they were aware of Malfoy's actions because McGonagall continually rolled her eyes in exasperation and Snape smirked in amusement, Draco Malfoy was simply putting on a show.
The finale began with Malfoy taking out Smith and Thomas with a stunning hex and taking the other two out by erecting a reflecting spell, which sent their curses back at them. Then he smiled at Pansy and said, "Because you're the cutest," before knocking her out with a fainting spell. He then bowed, as always, and left the stage.
"Well then, thank you for an excellent duel all. I want you each to take ten minutes to write down notes on the duel so you can write on six inches of parchment what techniques were effective and which weren't," Lupin announced and the students all took their notes while whispering about the whole duel.
"Silence!" McGonagall ordered approximately ten minutes later and the whispers died down. The next round was about to start.
"Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter."
A collective gasp rose up in the crowd as the two stepped up. Who would dare to challenge the two golden boys of Gryffindor and practically their whole school?
Hermione Granger stepped up and another gasp erupted as whispers burst forth about their quarrel in Potions and one went as far as to suggest that it had something to do with a secret lover.
"Hermione?" Ron asked horrified. "You're the one dueling us?"
"Of course," she replied back. "I thought this would be a nice, clean way of regaining my honor, the honor which you both have tarnished."
Harry looked at her with accusing and hurt eyes.
"You're not going to even scratch me so don't bother trying to talk me out of this one," she replied, wand ready. She was confident. It wasn't personal. It simply a matter of wounded pride and this was means of regaining it.
Silence followed as the three gazed at one another. A stale clap rose from the crowd and all turned to see Draco Malfoy approaching the stage. They all stared at him as though he was insane, and he shrugged.
"Well I can't allow you to have all the fun Granger," he exclaimed and with that Draco Malfoy hopped back onto the stage.
"Malfoy, what are you doing up there?" McGonagall asked horrified that Draco Malfoy would be assisting her prize pupil.
"Let's just say I have a personal vendetta against these two. Why don't we just leave it at that," he replied with a smile. It seemed so genuine that it threw Hermione off, and she couldn't think of a reply. She simply obliged Draco and turned to face their opponents.
Another gasp and more whispers circulated around the room that it must be the two are lovers and that Harry and Ron had tried to prevent them from seeing each other.
"You're not helping much," Hermione whispered as she heard the rumors. So much for getting this done and over with quickly; now they'd think the rumors were true.
"I know, forgive me," Malfoy replied giving her a smirk. "Just didn't want to have my Angelus beaten up. You know, it comes with being a Guardian," he said sarcastically while rolling his eyes exasperated. His eyes though turned rather soft as he said the next line. "If you wanted to get at them for what happened in Potions you could have told me; I would have dueled and hexed the shit out of them for you."
Hermione stared at him stunned and didn't know what to say, so much so that she could only dodge the oncoming hex thrown at her after Lupin shouted three.
She watched and saw that Ron had chosen her as his opponent. She spared a glance over at Malfoy to see he was simply engaging Harry and keeping him busy until she was ready for him.
"What, too fast for you Potter?" Malfoy taunted as he dodged a hex.
"No, just too arrogant," he replied as a slicing hex nicked Malfoy on the arm.
Hermione glared at Ron. She would have to get rid of him before she made her move against Harry.
Ron looked at her angry. "You know, it's one thing to yell at us in the common room, but it's another thing to make this whole thing public."
"You're the one that made it that way when you stole my potion!" Hermione hissed and hit him with a binding spell. He fell to the ground like a rock.
She turned to Harry and Malfoy simply stepped out of her way. "Ladies first."
She looked at Harry with fury. He backed up, knowing to expect the worst, so it surprised him when Hermione sighed. "You never get it."
"What?" he asked perplexed as another binding spell hit him.
Hermione looked up at Malfoy to see him already looking at her. "A bit less cruel and revengeful than I would have liked it, but well done."
She swore someone snorted in the crowd. "Sod off Malfoy. I'll deal with you later."
"Oh fun, that means we're in for a long night, if you know what I mean" he announced with a wink to the crowd. Whispers flew at light speed and Hermione groaned as she walked back to the Gryffindor side. This was not going to help things one bit.
She met him in the Room of Requirement. It was a quaint room, simple yet refined. There was a coldness to it, despite the roaring fire in the far corner. There were chairs, sofas, desks of cherry wood and various silks, and residing in one of those was Draco Malfoy.
He sat with his back towards her, staring intently into the fire. She saw that the cut on his arm had been healed, and he seemed, all in all, his normal, usual, arrogant, prick of a self.
"You're late Granger," he exclaimed without even looking at her.
"It's Angelus to you," she shot back glaring at the back of his chair.
He looked over at her smirking as she sat down. "I'll call you whatever I want, Granger."
She glared at him from her seat. She refused to say anything in response. It seemed childish of her to do so, so she chose another childish antic: pouting.
"Don't pout Granger. It doesn't suit you," he stated exasperated and stood up.
She braced herself and shrunk back into her chair. "Draco Malfoy, what are you doing?"
He made his way toward her and leaned towards her face. She shrunk further into her chair and closed her eyes. When she finally peaked, she saw Draco Malfoy giving her the coldest look possible.
"While I may act as nice as Harry-bloody-Potter outside of this room, inside our room I'll show you just how much of a bastard I can be," he hissed. He made a sound of disgust and turned around. "Get up; you might as well learn pureblood etiquette."
The room instantly changed into a lavish dinning room, one she could envision the elite witches and wizards of society dining at. The table was ridiculously long and had a gold table liner. Various plates and dishes were spread out upon the table and she knew she was in for hell tonight.
"Come here," Draco instructed as he stood in front of a massive wardrobe. She cautiously made her way over to his side and he presented her with a beautiful white dress robe. "Change into this. When you're dining, you'll be wearing the finest of things Angelus. You might as well practice in this now."
She nodded glancing at the robe, trying to piece together what it would look like on her. She took it and went to a dressing room that was conveniently placed next to the wardrobe. She began to marvel at the wonders of this room and wondered what else it could conjure.
Once she tried on the robe, she gasped.
"Malfoy, there's no way in hell I'm wearing this!" she screamed from inside the room.
The robe was of pure white and hung on her shoulders. It dipped in front and continued to flow down to the floor. The matching shoes and jewelry was all too much. This wasn't her. Hermione Granger was a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. Not some fancy ballroom dress robe kind of girl. But then again, the back of her mind said to her, perhaps Hermione Angelus is.
"Granger, you are going to wear that dress, come out, eat, and look damn good all at the same time or my name isn't a Malfoy," he barked back full of malice.
She imagined murdering him in delightful ways all dealing with a slow and painful death. Still, when she had the dress on her, she couldn't help but admit that she looked damn good as Malfoy put it. The dress fit her perfectly and the white only made her hair look darker and golden. It was rather lovely. Still, the shoes killed with their four inch heels, but she was grateful for all the comfort charms laid upon them.
"Granger, I haven't got all day," Malfoy complained.
She took a deep breath and then went out to face the dragon Malfoy.
"Grang—"
He couldn't help but stare. The words left his mouth as his eyes roamed over his ward. He had seen his fair share of girls, but she outshone them by far. Never before had something so simple looked so elegant. While other girls flaunted everything they had shamelessly, Granger had something about her. Perhaps it was the pretty little blush she had on her face or her modesty, but something about her made her seem beautiful to him.
She passed by him silently, not daring to meet his eyes, and headed for the table. He regained his senses and followed her. She paused and reached for the chair when she saw it move on its own. She looked and saw Malfoy had pulled it out for her.
"Never touch a chair yourself Granger. Pureblooded women always wait for a gentleman to seat them," Malfoy instructed as Hermione sat down.
He moved to sit down himself and Hermione stared at the plates and utensils in front of her. There had to be about three of each utensil and just as many plates.
"While dinning and table manners are one thing, the role you play at the dinner table is another," Draco explained. With the wave of his hand the table was filled with chatting people, people whom she knew to be Death Eaters. "As the Angelus not only are you the hand of the Dark Lord, but the eyes and ears also. You must find who you can rely upon and who you can not. Find out their secrets, and yet, you must entertain your guests in front of you," he explained giving a cheeky smile as he indicated to himself.
"I don't suppose you were listening to what the Lestranges were talking about just now were you?" Draco asked and Hermione tuned in over there, overwhelmed by the amount of information she had to take in.
"Don't worry about the Angelus, I've got it covered," said Bellatrix Lestrange to Macnair. "That chit of a girl doesn't know what she's doing. It'll be easy to point the damage onto her."
"But—"
"I know, loyalty to the Angelus is the highest, but what does a muggle know about wizarding affairs?" Bella replied and gave a wicked laugh.
"Do you see what I mean?" Draco explained. "You are at a disadvantage Granger because many purebloods will not take you for who you are simply because they've known you to be a muggle all your life. You'll need to work to prove your worth in our circle."
Hermione nodded and the illusion ended. The table and guests faded away until the original room came back into place.
"I'll meet you here again in two nights. Practice at meals what I have just taught you," Draco said looking critically at her, as if analyzing if she could accomplish her given task or not.
Their eyes met; his were critical and hers were full of irritation. Fine, he could just be that way.
"Alright then, I'll see you in two days," he announced dismissing her as he walked out the door.
She wanted nothing more but to strangle him, but instead she closed her eyes, took deep breaths and counted to ten. Then she walked out the door, repressing her rather murderous thoughts.
The next day at breakfast Hermione Granger could not help but put Malfoy's words to use. She couldn't help but overhear that Lavender had another crisis which involved a certain Terry Boot, all while she was in a full blown discussion about what happened in DADA yesterday.
"Hermione Granger," Ginny announced as Lavender was wailing about how she turned the corner to find Terry jumping on Katie Bell, his tongue down her throat. "I demand to know what is going on between you and Draco Malfoy."
All heads turned and even Lavender paused in the middle of her pity cry to listen to Hermione's reply.
She gave them all a dirty look. "There is nothing going on between me and—"
"Hermione!"
She whipped her head around and gasped as Draco Malfoy flaunted towards her with the biggest smile on his face. She couldn't speak as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her neck.
"What are you playing at Malfoy?" she hissed as he leaned in next to her ear.
"Just doing my duty," Draco replied with amusement in his rather cold voice.
"Hermione, remind me to make you angry again sometime. Last night was, well" he trailed off adding an innuendo to the end. His eyes met with her and suddenly everything clicked and Hermione said the most un-Hermione thing of her life.
"Oh, hell no. There is no way—"
"Hermione Granger. You're having illicit sex with Draco Malfoy?" Ginny screeched which succeeded in halting all conversations in the Great Hall. All heads turned fully to the "couple" and waited for their reply. For a Gryffindor, sworn enemy of Slytherin, to be doing…rather intimate things with the enemy…well, it wouldn't be a happy sight.
He blinked at Ginny, giving her the most innocent look a Malfoy could possibly conjure. "You didn't know?"
All hell broke loose and teachers rose from their seats. Girls were sobbing that their "Drakie" was having sex with someone so unworthy, Hermione still held her title as the Virgin Princess of the century, and others were in an uproar about the traitors. Slytherin saw it as perfectly fine so long as she was for pleasure, but the other houses all labeled Hermione as the enemy.
"Fuck," Hermione moaned as she put her hands on her head.
"It's okay Hermione. We'll get through this," Draco said supportively, patting her on the back.
She looked back to glare daggers at him and she could see only mirth in his eyes. That son of a bitch…
Her day had been hell, pure hell. As she walked through the hall students gave her looks and her fellow house members wouldn't even talk to her anymore. No one asked her for an answer and she didn't speak all day. Teachers gave her various looks from outrage to amusement. She suppressed her thoughts of killing Draco Malfoy and continued her day like any other student, if that was even possible.
She didn't think it could get any worse, but as soon as she saw Harry and Ron turn the corner she knew she was going to hell.
"Hermione," Harry said coldly as the two paused in front of her.
"Harry, Ron" she replied in the same clipped tone.
There was a moment of silence until Ron couldn't hold his frustration.
"How could you?" he accused as his voice increases a few decibels. He raised an accusing finger as he continued. "How could you go behind our backs and do that Hermione? And with all people, Draco Malfoy?" he screeched, fury abounding. "You're sick you know that? Sick"
"Ron, that's enough," Harry said putting a halt to Ron's little tantrum. He gave Hermione a look, one which hurt more than Ron's angry words. "I thought I could trust you Hermione."
She stared at them helpless. She wanted nothing more than to reach out and hug them, but she stood frozen in place, unable to lift her arms, unable to move her legs.
With that the two walked on and Hermione was left in the hall alone to nurse her oncoming tears.
She could not retain her fury when she saw Draco Malfoy next. She spotted him in the hall as she went to her Charms class. She did not hesitate as she stormed over to him, the hall empty of students.
"You planned this all along didn't you?" she hissed as she approached him, finger pointed and ready to kill.
He held his hands up in defense. "It was convenient."
"How so?" she asked accusingly as he backed into a wall. She gave his chest a not-so-delicate poke.
"You needed to get away from Potter and Weasel and by sleeping with me all problems are now solved," he replied grinning.
"That doesn't solve the fact that the whole school has been on my case and wants nothing more than to stab me in my sleep and drag me out to the quidditch pitch to burn on a stake," she hissed as she forced him into the wall harder.
Their eyes met, hers accusing and his grew hard. "Do you really expect everyone to welcome you with open arms when you are discovered to be the Angelus? Get real Granger. When you come out it won't be the whole school that'll be after you, it'll be the whole wizarding world."
He stepped out of her grasp and started down the hall. "So get used to it."
She could only stare as he retreated down the cold corridor.
Hermione could not help but hear the truth that rang in Malfoy's words. The whole wizarding world would be out for her blood, and it was all because of her name. She would lose the friends she grew up with and make new ones. She would have people out to kill her and she would have those that would save her, for their own benefit more than her own.
Hermione has always known the world was cold, but now she was beginning to realize that the world was a lot colder than she had ever dreamed.
They met the next day in the Room of Requirement. As before, Malfoy was already in the room when Hermione entered. He didn't say hi. He didn't even acknowledge her presence. He stood up from his spot and walked over to what looked to be a small dinning table, much like the one Hermione had at her own home. She took the cue and followed him. She stood waiting for him to pull out her chair. He raised an eyebrow at her.
"I was paying attention," she replied.
"Of course. I'd expect nothing less of the Head Girl," he replied pulling the chair out for her. He seated himself soon after.
They sat for a while in silence. Hermione could do nothing but stare at her hands. Every time she looked up she met his piercing gaze. He was looking at her so closely, so piercingly that she couldn't bear to look. It was painful to do so.
"What's the game Malfoy?" she asked looking up once again after mustering all her courage. She stared at him and met his gaze. She refused to look down this time.
He smirked. "At least you know how to put on a face. That'll make things much easier." He stood up and began to walk around. "See, today you'll learn all about faces. I'll make you want to cry, hide, give up, but you're going to give me a smile and convince me that you really want to smile."
She looked at him in anger. That was an emotion easy to convey at the moment.
He smirked. This was going to be either rather easy, or very hard.
He began to circle around her. "Granger, dear, I want to see you smile."
"It's Angelus to you Malfoy," she replied with the fakest smile on her face. Her eyes were glaring daggers at him.
He snickered. "You'll never convince the Dark Lord like that." Her face flickered. He caught the emotion: fear. "Ah, yes, you're beginning to understand. Your life may depend on how convincingly you manage to convey your feelings. If I say happy, then I want to see you happy Granger."
"Hermione," she replied quietly.
"What?" he asked, rather confused at her sudden word.
"Hermione. Call me Hermione. You're my guardian after all. Then you can stop calling me Granger and you don't have to call me Angelus," she replied meeting his gaze. After a slight pause and some hesitance clearly written on her face, she gave him a smile, a brilliant smile.
He was stunned. He was positive she was still hesitant, perhaps even a little scared at how he could possibly throw this hand of friendship back into her face, but all he could see was her smile. It took his breath away. It was such a small smile. He'd seen ones so much more brilliant, but looking at hers, it was different. It broke his heart.
Still, he kept a face of indifference and smirked. "I'll think about your offer, but don't go thinking that you can call me Draco anytime you want now."
She smirked. She saw through his façade. He wouldn't care if she called him Draco at the right times. She'd just have to remember there was a time and place for it. At the same time she knew he'd still call her Granger, but it gave her hope that he'd perhaps take her up on her offer since he didn't reject it either.
God, he stared at her. He couldn't do it. He couldn't put her through shit tonight. He couldn't rip that pathetic smile off her face, and he couldn't simply crush her spirit. He knew how she felt right now, because on some level, he felt it too. He knew her small hope, and he couldn't bring himself to blow it out. He couldn't.
He let out a sigh. A small one, but Hermione caught it. She knew its significance. Something was up, something enough so that he let his guard down.
"Let's go over general etiquette. The boring stuff," he explained as he sat back down.
She nodded, willing to go with whatever he had planned. She wasn't about to push him off the edge.
"There are levels, a hierarchy of sorts in the Pureblood world. You, my dear Angelus, are at the top of that hierarchy. The Dark Lord is not of our world, and he knows this, but you are not to look down upon him. He will not tolerate it. We amuse him, much like adults would amuse a child," he paused and gave her a small smile.
"Due to this hierarchy of sorts, you are not to look up at anyone because you are at the top of it. You are the one that begins all conversations, and you are the one who ends all conversations. When people approach to speak with you, they will first go through me, and with your permission, they will speak to you," he explained staring intently at her. She looked at him and nodded.
In a flash the room transformed once more. This time it was a ball room. She could see that it was a social event. Her attire changed to another set of dress robes this time in chocolate brown and Malfoy's robes were different also.
He held his arm out for her and she grabbed onto it. As they approached the center of the ball room, the crowd parted for their entrance. Her eyes gazed over the crowd, never lingering too long on one person, but long enough to know who was there. As she walked, someone approached. She looked to see that it was Bellatrix Lestrange. Draco met her gaze to ask how she would act. She tilted her head down slightly to show she would be spoken to. Draco stepped out of the way.
"My Lady," Bellatrix Lestrange said when she approached. She paused to bow deeply.
"What to you want Bella?" Hermione asked in a hard voice. It was neither warm nor cold. She did it so that Lestrange would get straight to the point.
Obviously, it worked. "Dear Angelus, while I understand our Lord's reason behind choosing one so precious to lead our mission, I can not help but wonder if someone with more…experience would be better suited for the role. It is our will and purpose to serve you Lady. I believe discussing this is in my Lady's best interest."
Her eyes flashed. They were questioning her authority? She knew that she was at a disadvantage. Draco had made this point quite clear at their last meeting. She knew they looked down upon her for growing up in the muggle world, ignorant of pureblood ways. Well, she would show them that she could play their game.
"Bella, I appreciate your kindness. What would you have me do?" Hermione asked in a cold, sweet voice. It was one that would put Narcassia Malfoy to shame. She spoke Lestrange's first name because it was not age that mattered here, it was rank, and she knew that her rank was much higher than that of Lestrange.
Lestrange gave a cold smile. "Leave this mission to me Angelus. I will ensure its success. Rodolphus, Macnair and I have come up with a plan which will both please our master and yourself Angelus."
Hermione gave a cold smile. She now knew the names of those who opposed her and a vague idea of what their plans were. "Thank you Bella for your concern, but this is a mission appointed to me by our Lord, and I will ensure that it is seen through."
With that and one final look to warn Lestrange that she was not some ignorant muggle school girl, she followed Draco's lead and walked to the back rooms.
After the door closed, the scene ended. He looked at her mildly amused and perhaps even impressed. "You know, your whole demeanor changes in that room. It's rather impressive, unpolished, but with a little practice we can make it work."
She smiled. She had been so scared, so scared that she would fail, so scared that she would disappoint him. She had succeeded instead, well, not quite, but it felt like that to her. "I tried."
He gave her one final look before he pushed off and walked towards the door. She watched him as he walked off, never once looking back. He back looked so cold to her. She couldn't break through to him. Then he paused at the door and gave her one glance back. "You did well today Granger." With that, he opened the door and left her alone in the room of requirement with only a roaring fire for company.
The week pasted in much the same fashion. Most of the school continued to ignore her, others decided to continue and make her life hell. Others, a small number, tried to help her by walking with her from class to class and other small things which made her life easier.
She met with Draco twice more during the week. They continued to practice keeping faces, both in public and private. He challenged her etiquette and knowledge of pureblood society. She enjoyed the challenge, despite its difficulty, because it helped get her mind of off her real life and the hell which surrounded it.
Still, Defense Against the Dark Arts was going to be a bitch. She stood on the outside of the circle in the Gryffindor section with a foot of space around her in all directions, as though she had a plastic bubble surrounding her in which no one could penetrate. She felt the various glares and looks as people wrote her name and put it into the hat.
She just stood and tried to concentrate on breathing calmly. Still, her fury was getting to her. Perhaps this duel would be good for her.
"Alright everyone, silence!" Professor Lupin shouted as he grabbed the hat. The students quieted down immediately and eagerly awaited the name which would be called first.
"Hermione Granger."
There were cheers among the crowd, even from her own house. Far more, it seemed, than Malfoy had ever roused after the first day. She approached the stage to face her opponents. As she approached she saw much of the seventh year student body do so as well, many of who were of the female population. She silently cursed in her head as she kept on a calm face. Her opponents numbered fifteen.
"As victim, you may choose to fight all your opponents at once or separately," Lupin announced politely while giving Hermione a look telling her not to do it.
"All at once," she replied coldly and gasps sounded from the crowd. She was taking on even more than Malfoy ever had at once, with exception perhaps of that one time he took on the Ravenclaw team. She looked through the crowd and saw Ginny. Her eyes pleaded her not to do it. She looked at others and saw the same look or ones of glee, glee that she was getting what she deserved.
Then she looked and saw Malfoy, of all people. Their eyes met and his were of fury. They burned with anger, anger at what she could guess, that she was stupid enough to take on fifteen to one odds. Still, while they burned so fiercely, there was something else, something more. There, she spotted it. There was worry.
"Don't be stupid Granger. Keep your wits about you and if you're going to bloody get yourself killed, at least go out in style," his eyes told her. She felt them burning her skin.
She glared at him to reply back. "I'll be fine. Don't worry your prissy little pureblooded head off."
The whistle blew and she attacked. She sent hexes to those nearest to her, first the Ravenclaw girl on the left and then another Ravenclaw on the right. She knocked out a Hufflepuff and dodged hexes here and there. She tried her best to avoid getting hit, but she couldn't help but hiss as she felt a slicing hex cut into her left shoulder and another into her right calf. Still, she managed to take those who threw them at her out of the game and continued an aggressive offense.
At the end of it all she was exhausted and bloodied. Still, she remained standing as Lupin announced her the winner. Her opponents were lying on the floor around her, some conscious and some not. She was victorious.
She closed her eyes and felt herself caught before she had even realized she was falling. She opened them to see that she had nearly collapsed and was caught by none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Granger," he said his voice cold as ice. "If you ever do that again I'll bloody kill you."
She gave him a rather weak smirk. "Yeah, but I did a good job."
He didn't say anything. He simply pulled back, and she looked to meet his gaze. There, for the first time was warmth. His eyes held warmth for her, however small. It made her whole body feel warm.
He wouldn't say it, but he was proud of her. He was proud that she could hold her own in fifteen against one odds, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. If he did, he'd have to suffer her sugary affection, her joy at his praise. So he kept that thought to himself, only to have it reflected in his eyes for the briefest moment.
As soon as she saw the look in his eyes, they were gone in a flash too soon replaced by coldness. "Don't think you can go waltzing into any fifteen verse one duel anytime soon now. You're lucky they didn't kill you."
Irritated, she pushed him away and stood up. "I can hold my own," she shot back. She began to walk towards the doors. The class stood silently as they watched the drama unfold. She knew Malfoy was trailing behind her.
She continued to walk down the corridor without throwing a glance back. Her shoes clicked on the stone floor. She could hear him behind her, following her every move, as if waiting for a chance to pounce. He was now the predator, and she was his prey.
Soon enough, as they turned the corner, he grabbed her and pushed her against the wall, effectively pinning her with his two arms. She glared at him. She knew he was going to be childish but not this childish. He simply glared back.
"Granger, I consider myself a patient man, a logical one even, but if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I will make sure to personally kill you myself, even if that means bringing you from hell simply to send you back again," he hissed.
She glared at him and stayed silent for the longest time. Then she whispered, "You're not my keeper" and, as he loosen his grip, she walked away.
He waited for her that night as always. As he sat in his chair, he thought of all the things he could do to punish her for her insolence.
It was not that she didn't do well or that he believed she couldn't hold her own, but something else, something foreign to him: worry. His heart felt like it was going to stop more than once during the match. Every time he saw a curse fly at her he sucked in his breath and held it. He forgot to breathe as he watched her get hit. That's why he was so cold. He needed her to know she was never to do anything like that ever again.
She entered the room fifteen minutes late. She rushed through the door out of breath and shaken. She had run from her room to the Room of Requirement after having forgotten their meeting. She had been engrossed in a potions assignment when she remembered and rushed down here. She knew she was in for it the moment she entered the room.
"Granger, you're late," Malfoy drawled as he walked over to her from his usual seat. She stood by the door bent over, hand to her chest, trying to catch her breath.
"I'm sorry. I was in the middle of a potions assignment. I was researching various properties of the Luna Flower and it was so interesting that—"
"Do you really think I care Granger?" he asked and her voice stopped. She stood and stared at him and his cold eyes glared at her. "Do you really think I care about your pathetic excuses?" he hissed. Her blood ran cold. "I take precious time out of my life to help save your pathetic ass from the hands of our lovely, blood-thirsty pureblooded society, and you have the nerve to show up not five or ten, but fifteen minutes late?"
She was terrified to say the least. She had never seen Malfoy like this. Frustrated, yes, angry beyond belief, yes, but never had she felt his wrath like she was now. She was furious.
"It's only fifteen minutes! Yes, I know it is my fault, but that gives you no right to scold me like this, like a little child!" she cried. She walked up to him, and raised her hand to slap him.
He grabbed her wrist and pushed her against the door. "Listen Angelus and listen closely because I will only tell you once. It is my job to ensure your safety, but if you fail to obey my rules then I will make your life hell. I'm sure you understand." He said as she shoved her harder against the door. She would have bruises on her wrists for the next few days.
She glared at him, and for the first time, felt more hatred for Draco Malfoy than ever. "Crystal." With that she pushed him off and walked out the door, slamming it loudly behind her.
He stared at after she had left and realized what he had done. Fuck. It was going to be a hell of a long week.
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