The "action" should start right around here… the real one. :]
Disclaimer: I'm just a toddler in the JKRowling's sandbox, nothing more than that.
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-Reviewing Actions-
The professors spared no time in getting back into the swing of school sessions and began assigning their students review materials for the upcoming NEWTs. They were all to take a study partner to be assigned by the professors. In compliance with Dumbledore's plans, Draco and Hermione were compulsorily paired together in every class they had with each other.
Professor Burbage made sure not to mention Draco's name in Hermione's vicinity less the Head Girl catch on… or worse lose her temper.
Tuesdays after dinner were spent in the library while Thursdays after dinner were spent in their private quarters where the two would review all spells and information from the past seven years spent at the magical school.
They were often spotted in the library studying together at a respectable distance from one another. Nothing that could be misconstrued as inappropriate occurred under the curious stares of their classmates. However, alone in their tower, they were more often than not sitting much closer together acting very much like the friends they were.
There were playful touches as one tried to get the attention of the other to either point out a mistake or embellish on an idea. Touches that they both delighted in implementing and receiving.
As time went on in the stable schedule, Hermione would catch herself looking at him for minutes at a time and would look away quickly hoping he didn't notice. It started with a simple glance while he was nibbling at his quill's tip, each time leaving a bluish hue upon his lips. And Hermione's imagination would run wild. What would he do if I did this? Would he flinch? Run away? Push meaway? Or would he let me… And it would all come to end as soon as she realized her train of thought.
Little did Hermione know, Draco had noticed her staring. And it unsettled him. He became very aware of both his body and Hermione's body since that winter break, that felt so long ago, but in reality was only seven weeks prior.
He was once very lucky to have touched her hair on one of their study sessions. Upon contact, he remarked of its softness, just as soft as or even softer than the other girls who prided themselves on their appearances. Despite the deceiving bushiness, Draco was sure that if he ran his hand through it, there would be no tangles, but individual tresses that would wrap around his fingers, caressing them as she might.
x
Today was a Thursday. And it felt like ages since she last saw her friends, meaning Harry and Ron, not Draco. Actually, saw them and talked to them, unlike in their many shared classes in which she would perpetually be paired up with Draco, leaving Harry and Ron to their own respective partners and her focus on something else.
With her hectic schedule, she tried to pencil in time with her friends every chance she got, but that was just it. She was penciling them in, only to erase them later. Something always had a way of interfering with her plans that would have to be dealt with first. But mealtimes, those were things that she would never skip, not because she was hungry, but because she had the chance to spend time with her friends.
There were the occasional trips to the Gryffindor Tower to help her boys review—their idea, not hers—in order to pass their NEWTs and become Aurors. Compared to those trips, meals were definitely better because they made a new rule to never discuss schoolwork or tests at the table.
This particular dinner, Hermione was watching Harry silently. He seemed troubled, but thinking it was because of his classes, she said nothing. She just watched. However, when he made to excuse himself after Snape and Dumbledore left their seats at the staff table.
She turned to Ron, "What was that all about?"
"Dunno, he wouldn't tell me when I asked. Pass the treacle tart?"
"Here." She would make a note to ask him of it later.
As usual, Hermione left the Gryffindor Table first, exactly ten minutes before Draco Malfoy would leave the Slytherin Table to start their study session. It would not bode well to the rest of the students that they were cooperating willingly, or so Draco had said.
x
She was staring again. Draco could hardly stand it. He kept rereading a question on his Transfiguration review sheet, but he couldn't concentrate on a single word. He wasn't even sure he spelled his name right. Draycol Melfooa… no, he was sure he didn't spell his name correctly. He crossed it out impatiently.
But, it wasn't fair. She'd been staring at him for at least ten minutes straight and he couldn't do a damn thing about it.
It was pure frustration. The longer she looked, the more he wanted to do something. Reach out and touch her, anything. He turned to look at her, expecting her to break her gaze in embarrassment, but she didn't.
Instead, their eyes locked, and he swore that if she didn't look away soon, he would have to do something that he would regret later on. Breaking the staring contest and about to speak, he was quickly silenced. Not that he was complaining much.
He felt her lips on his, so soft and pliant. One of her delicate hands threading through his hair while her other kept her propped up while she pressed against him. Grabbing the hand that helped keep her up, he held it captive in his own. He now had her leaning into his chest. Freeing his other hand, he dropped his quill and cupped her cheek tenderly, rubbing it softly in small circles with the pad of his thumbs.
He deepened the kiss and tasted her, like the sweet ambrosia of the Gods of Olympus. And he drank like a man trapped in the desert. His life-source.
She broke away from him with a smile and began her previously untouched assignments leaving him to question whether or not it had really happened or if he had been daydreaming once more as he was wont to do in her presence.
x
She didn't understand how it happened. It started out as just looking at him, and then her What if's ran through her mind, and she did it. On some hidden desire's impulse, she kissed him. And it was nice. There were other words that might have been better fit to describe it, but that was all she could think of before having a breakdown.
Her What if's took another sudden downturn. What if… it was nice for her, but not for him? Oh, Merlin. They served garlic bread today at dinner, did she have any? She couldn't remember. Her heartbeat began to quicken.
Then, as quick as her anxiety had come, it disappeared, soothed. Replaced by his warm hand on hers. Funny, she thought, she never expected him to be this warm. His pale skin and hard exterior always led her to believe he was like marble, cool and smooth to the touch. It was only now that she knew that she was so deliciously wrong.
x
Thankful, she didn't question him and thankful he was left-handed, Draco was quite certain that he wouldn't do any serious thinking for the rest of the night.
They were on a fragile bubble, ephemeral at best, but he didn't ever want it to burst.
x
In the Headmaster's Office, there was a semi-irate Professor Snape who questioned the effectiveness of the plans.
"Severus, I am shocked. Surely, of all people, you must have noticed their progression?"
"What progression? All I have ever witness them do were sit, study, and work together. Although far more civilly than I would have guessed."
"But there it is. Shall we look over their actions?"
"I have seen it with my own eyes, Albus. There is nothing remarkable, nothing indecent, and nothing to hint at anything more than nothing at best."
"Are you sure?"
Humoring the Headmaster just slightly, "Very much so, yes. But I suppose you're going to prove me wrong?"
"You are more perceptive than I, Severus. Tell me, how do they sit or stand next to each other?"
"Always the same distance apart, one foot, not matter the setting or time."
"I have my suspicions about that, but first. A foot, you say, exactly just one?"
"You cannot be serious to think that they calculated as such."
"Alas, that is exactly what I am thinking. Childhood rivals would strive to be as far apart as possible—"
"You've put a stop to that possibility quite nicely."
"—However," he continued without any indication of hearing Severus' interruption, "I would think that to work in pairs on potions require said pair to be in a closer proximity, no? Much less than a foot considering the workspace allotted. But to keep a foot's distance, nothing more and nothing less, at all times. Does it not seem as if they are hiding something?"
"Hiding something, that's preposterous."
"Think what you will, Severus. But I must advise you to watch them much more carefully when you chance upon seeing them interact. It's quite interesting. Amusing to an old codger such as myself, but you might gain some entertainment out of it yourself."
"Indeed. Excuse me, Albus, I must excuse myself now." He made to leave.
"Of course, do watch them, Severus?"
He was now quite curious at his Headmaster's pleading words, as if worries or unsure, but that has never happened before.
Stepping out from behind the stone gargoyle entrance, he chanced upon a hapless Harry Potter trying desperately to guess the password until he saw the person stepping out and grimaced.
"Five points from Gryffindor, Mister Potter. You should not take to disturbing the Headmaster whenever you fancy. It's disrespectful and rude."
He said nothing, knowing better to rise to the bait. Severus looked at the boy once more and took pity upon him. "Am I to assume that this is an important matter?"
Potter's shocked face would forever be a stockpile clip in his memory banks, "Yes, Professor."
"Well, far be it from me to keep the Boy-Who-Lived from his heroic duties. Puking Pastilles."
Potter ran inside without another word. Ingrate.
x
"Harry, I was not expecting you. Tic-tac? It's another muggle creation that I am very fond of, I particularly like the orange ones."
"No, thank you, Headmaster. I have to tell you something important."
"Oh?" He said nothing, but selected an orange capsule from the crystal bowl.
"My scar, it's hurting again."
…
You didn't expect to not have Voldemort in this fic, did you? That would just be a copout… and it's totally ruin the rest of my storyline.
A tad short, but I think I'm rushing to get it out. A hit and run storytelling.
The orange tic-tacs are just something that I'm craving right now. :[